On July 4th, while sitting on my deck photographing birds, I spotted something unexpected under one of my oak trees. Two small chicks caught my eye, and after watching them for a few seconds, I realized they were young Northern Mockingbirds. They looked like they had just left the nest.
What made this sighting so surprising is that the adult mockingbirds didn’t nest on my property this year. I haven’t seen any signs of a nest nearby. My best guess is that these fledglings came from across the road, possibly from my neighbor’s place. I watched as an adult mockingbird brought both chicks insects to eat.
A Curious Disappearance
Later that same day, I spotted one of the young birds taking shelter in a brush pile I keep in the yard for wildlife. It was using the pile for cover, just as I had hoped animals would. However, I didn’t see the second chick again. I’m not sure what happened to it.
Unfortunately, I’ve been seeing crows in the area recently. At one point, I saw a crow flying away with what looked like a baby bird in its beak. As it flew, a pair of Northern Mockingbirds were dive-bombing it aggressively. I can’t say for certain, but it’s possible the crow took one of the chicks I had seen earlier.
Another Surprise in the Flower Bed
Just two days later, on July 6th, I discovered another baby Northern Mockingbird tucked into one of my flower beds. This one also appeared to be fresh from the nest. I don’t know if this bird was from the same brood or another nearby nest, but it was a welcome sight.
Rare and Rewarding Encounters
It has been exciting to see baby Northern Mockingbirds in my yard. The only other time I’ve had a close encounter with a fledgling was last year, during “A Clever Encounter With an Immature Northern Mockingbird.” That moment stood out, and these new sightings brought back those same feelings of awe and curiosity.
Watching young birds explore their new world is always a highlight of summer birding. I’ll continue to keep an eye out and hope these young mockingbirds thrive in the days ahead.
Great story, thank you for sharing. We have a pair nest in our holly bush every year.