How to raise a mockingbird

In a nondescript boxwood hedge under our kitchen window,
boxwood

deep within its leaves,
boxwood

lies a little nest of twigs lined with all manner of natural and manmade textiles.
mockingbird eggs

We thought the nest had been abandoned, but last Saturday, all four eggs hatched,
newly hatched mockingbirds

and the proud parents made themselves quite visibly and audibly known. They stand watch day and night,
proud parents

and make multiple visits to the nest every hour to feed the babies.
feed the baby

Today the babies are a week old.
one week old

Mother and father are even more protective now,
look out

and swoop over my head when I get too close.
daddy mockingbird

The big baby in the middle is much larger than his nestmates.
baby mockingbirds

He's really good at begging to be fed!
feed me


Words and photos © 2009-2013 Caroline Homer for "The Shovel-Ready Garden". Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Comments

  1. Wonderful pictures! The boxwood makes a nice camo. Great to see they are recycling our textiles:)

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  2. What a fabulous story. Those are the prettiest eggs I have ever seen. And I was going to tell you that the hedge needed to go. I guess there is no point in saying that now!

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  3. Great photos.
    That stretched out neck, and big open mouth is adorable. You're lucky to get to watch this, up close.

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  4. So cute! I thought they were robin's eggs at first because they looked so blue. I didn't know mockingbirds laid colorful eggs too.

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