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I’m curious about something. I mentioned how the nesting pair of mockingbirds are inadvertently aiding the nesting bluebirds by monopolizing the defense of the backyard territory. The bluebirds, in turn, apparently know how to go to and from the box without triggering the territorial response from the mockingbirds.
With a sense that this may be well known, I first searched for some words that apply to this observation. Commensalism seems to apply, that is where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. In this case, the bluebirds are the species that benefit from the territorial protection provided by the mockingbirds. The mockingbirds are practically bodyguards to the bluebirds, but only provided the bluebirds don’t provoke them.
Facilitation is another term I came across, which is when a species creates conditions that help other species. Also, perhaps, indirect mutualism or incidental mutualism, even though neither species is consciously cooperating.
I didn’t find anything discussing the specific scenario happening in my backyard. Of course the aggression of nesting mockingbirds is well known. And, interestingly, I read that mockingbirds will summon help from other mockingbirds in nearby territory to help with a persistent predator, and even that other birds will gather to watch. But I didn’t find a discussion of another nesting bird species benefiting from the presence of nesting mackingbirds. Maybe there are articles on this, but I didn’t find any.
I think to myself, Complex Systems.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
No news. All is well.
Tuesday next week is the date I stop checking the box because of the age of the young and to not to scare them into fledging early.
We are near the location where the city launches fireworks over the bay. It gets pretty loud. By my count of the days, the young should still be in the box and about to fledge. If they fledge over the 4th, I guess I won’t know if they fledged because it is their time or because of the fireworks.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
No news today, except it is evident the nesting bluebirds have adapted to the presence of the aggressive nesting mockingbirds. I watched the male bluebird come in low from the northwest corner of the backyard and beeline it to the nest box. That approach placed the crepe myrtle and the mockingbird nest on the other side of the nest box and probably the shortest distance to the box once crossing the fence line. I’ve also noticed that when the male perches on the nest box, he does so on the sloping roof side away from the crepe myrtle instead of directly on top of the box. He is not as skilled as the female when entering the box, however. He still lands on the outside of the opening and then goes in. But he is still quick enough that he doesn’t draw the attention of the mockingbirds. This is all very interesting.
The mockingbirds are as aggressive as ever. They are not letting up in the least. A poor mourning dove landed in the crepe myrtle, apparently unaware of the mockingbird nest. Within a second a mockingbird came across the yard and chased the poor dove out of the tree.
One other interesting event. I was watering the plants and standing a few feet from the nest box but positioned where I could see the box out of the corner of my eye. I managed to catch the female leave the box while I was standing there. Very cool.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Sad news.
One of the links I tried to post was to an article, and to the point it mentioned that the young bird was unlikely to stay in the nest. The article also mentioned that in the event, get the baby off the ground and on a branch of a bush or whatever, just get it off the ground. The idea is that the adults will take care of it and to just get it out of immediate danger. I have my doubts.
This made me think about what I would do. The Florida Bluebird Society has a number for a bird rehab or rescue. I should put it in my contacts. I don’t have experience with how responsive they are, and don’t know anyone yet that does have experience.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Still two unhatched eggs. I don’t expect them to hatch, but I’ll leave them in the nest as I did with the first nest.
I watched the box until I saw the female arrive, and continued watching for her to leave before I checked the box. When she arrived, she came in like a dive bomber and made the usual tight turn and straight into the box. No time for the mockingbirds to react.
I had started tapping the back of the box when I visit, even when I expect the adults to be gone. I noticed on hatch day that the hatchlings were begging for food when I opened the top. This is the first I’ve seen this as in the past they were always sleeping. I think tapping on the box is the difference. Today one was apparently sleeping and the other two were stretching, and one of those two started begging. It is good to see they are moving, and to see the female is still able to feed them.
Otherwise, except for the bluebirds coming and going at the nest box, the nesting mockingbirds have made the backyard a no-loitering zone. Except, strangely, they aren’t attacking me. I was looking at the crepe myrtle trying to see the mockingbird nest and one of the birds was on an outer branch looking back at me. Later, I was sitting on the porch and one landed on the back of a chair about 10 feet or so off the porch and looked at me for a minute. That’s it, just perched there looking at me. It might have been wanting food, except the bird feeder is full and stays full because it is chasing all the other birds away. I asked it to leave the bluebirds alone.
I wonder if the bluebirds are as stressed about the presence of the nesting mockingbirds. Or is it just another hazard among the many that they deal with and they don’t stress the way we would.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Live, I don’t know. FWIW I’ve been buying dry mealworms and dry BSF larvae through Amazon in 10-pound packages.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Still two eggs not hatched. Seems that is it, three hatchlings.
Something I’ve noticed before is the female perched at the box opening and looking out and it is happening again. And she is spending more time doing this. I watched for close to fifteen minutes before she left, and she was already at the opening when I noticed and started watching. I don’t know if it is the heat or what. She was doing this before the mockingbirds, so I don’t think they are the reason.
Another thing I’m curious about is that most of the time the female leaves the box and goes west. Sometimes she goes north, but not frequently. As far as I’ve noticed, she always returns from the west. The male always departs to the west and returns from the west. The box opening faces east and the back of the house. The crepe myrtle is south of the box, and close. I can see why she wouldn’t want to fly towards the crepe myrtle, but I don’t see a reason why she never flys towards and over the house. Other birds that visit the backyard come and go over the house, as well as from other directions. Very interesting.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Well, from what I can see the bluebird adults are able to feed the young. The difference I can see is the adults aren’t able to perch leisurely on the feeder pole or the fence. They are able to get to the box and go in and out. The female skill is a beauty to behold. She comes in fast from behind the box, does a tight u-turn and flies straight into the box.
The mockingbirds are amazingly aggressive. They will go across the yard to chase off a bird. The starlings aren’t even coming around now. The little birds are still trying to feed but they are set upon in a second. I guess this a benefit to the bluebirds. If only there were a way to use mockingbirds to protect bluebird nests from house sparrows and wrens all the time.
EDIT: The starlings just made an appearance at the feeder. What a battle. What a racket. They were chased off by the mockingbird pair.
I don’t know what to do to discourage the black snake from going after the mockingbird nest. It is hidden in the Spanish moss in the crepe myrtle, but I’m sure the snake will know it is there if it comes around. On the other hand, I’ve seen the mockingbirds go after it before, so for the snake it won’t be easy, I hope.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Today is hatch day. Three hatchlings and two eggs not yet hatched. I wonder if this will be a repeat of the first nest.
In other news, I observed a mocking bird carrying a twig into the crepe myrtle, then a pair going into he crepe myrtle together, and then a mocking bird chasing other birds away. I was doing other things, but I think I saw a mocking bird chasing a bluebird. I’ll be searching and seeing what others have experienced in similar case.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
No news. Hatch day is approaching. Friday is the likely date based on average for bluebirds in Florida.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
My posts have disappeared twice. I’m going to try this without posting links, in case that was the problem.
I don’t have personal experience with this. I did find two articles at Sialis.org. If you haven’t already, go there and search on premature fledging and also mites in nest box.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
I doubt the birds would be confused. But it is the sort of thing where you just have to find out.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
I personally don’t see the distance as an issue. If that were the only concern, I would say give it a try. My neighbor and I each have a bluebird box separated by a high privacy fence and vegetation.
My hesitation would be using a decorative bird house to host nesting birds. If it attracts a nesting pair and then ends up being harmful or unsafe for the adults or the young, that’s bad.
Another risk may be you attract a bird species that you don’t want, or it becomes a home for another unwanted species (like wasps?). On this, if you are able to keep an eye on the bird house, you can do whatever needed to head off problems.
Summary: The welfare of the birds is what matters, and the potential for there to be a severe problem before you know it is the concern. Anything else that you can manage without endangering the birds is worth trying. Just my opinion.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
By the way, as I was refilling the birdbath I looked up and there was a pair of bluebirds perched on the arm of the feeder pole, staring at me from not much more than a yard away. Male and female, side by side, like they were supervising my work. I said to them, hey there, but they had no comment.
It isn’t getting old.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
