Study: Don't Mess With Mockingbirds

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Is it unusual for a mockingbird to climb up thru a holly tree carrying the twigs to make the nest? This is the first time I have noticed them nesting near my porch and could not understand why they were climbing. Then I realized the twigs were too long or heavy to fly with so they climb the interior limbs.
Thank you. I found it very interesting.

phyllis waller of KY 12:50PM July 19, 2009

I have adored mockingbirds all of my life. I am impressed with how brave they are in fending off threats to their young, including fearlessly going after hawks, other birds of prey and cats that come near the nest. Their beautiful, melodic songs are so pleasant to wake up to in the morning.
I am not surprised by the findings highlighted in this article.

Rosemary of CA 6:10PM May 20, 2009

Regarding the Mocking Birds ability to recognise individual humans.
I can offer far more compelling evidence of this ability from the Australian
Magpie.
Some years ago I fed young magpies pieces of cheese and they became quite
daring, taking the cheese from my hand. I noticed at the time they would
come and beg when they saw me outside. However I left that property and
visited more than a year later and was enjoying a meal with the owners of
the property on the patio, under an awning. One of the magpies, and a very
young bird, clearly its offspring, arrived, standing immediately behind my
chair, asking for a handout. It accepted food from my hand.
The magpies had not frequented the property in my absence, and the owners
discouraged them when I was there, as they foul the concrete surface of the
patio.
What was impressive is that this bird not only could recognise me as an
individual, but could still recognise me, as such, more than a year after
their last seeing me.
Should you wish to confirm this event, I will be happy to provide contact
details for the owners.
Yours faithfully
Max Wood

Max Wood 5:31PM May 19, 2009

The mocking Bird is the state bird of Texas, where we live. We respect this bird as we do the Blue Bonnet (state flower). They're pretty, a delight to hear, and SMART. Read about them in a bird book.

Meg of TX 2:57PM May 19, 2009

The person with the comment about the police is ridiculous. All of gods creatures are equiped with an ability to tell the difference between good and bad. Someone or something that may be a threat or not to thier young. That is how they have survived since God created them.Most are more intelligent than the person making fun of the research.

Rita Shea of MS 2:31PM May 19, 2009

If this is true ,they might be able to assist in training police officers to better identify suspects on the street & later in court.Boy oh boy, if you bought any of that we're really in trouble.

Jack Abramowitz of KS 8:49PM May 18, 2009