There’s no doubt – it’s been a rotten winter for Florida gardeners.
Although January’s damaging freezes haven’t repeated themselves in the Bay area, the colder-than-average temperatures have taken away a lot of the joy of gardening – who wants to work in the garden when it’s 50 degrees and a cold wind is blowing?
My butterfly garden is especially sad; even though I’ve replanted with cool-weather annuals that provide nectar, many days have been far too chilly for butterflies to fly in for lunch.
Fortunately, we still have songbirds around to provide life in the gardens. In fact, mating season is progressing as usual, especially for Florida’s state bird, the Northern Mockingbird. With 
a little mockingbird knowledge, it’s easy to lure these distinctive and beneficial birds to your gardens.
First, a few facts: the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is found all over the U.S. as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean (map). It’s the only mockingbird commonly found in North America (hence the name) and loves suburban and agricultural areas. Mockingbirds are omnivores, so in addition to eating seeds and berries, they also dine on insects, making them a great bird to help control unwanted bugs in your gardens.
If you plan to draw mockingbirds to your yard for feeding and breeding, it’s important to note that male mockingbirds are very territorial and even aggressive (despite what Atticus Finch may have said). They will defend their nesting sites against perceived threats, including other birds, neighborhood cats, and even the occasional human, by swooping, chasing, and calling raucously.
They also protect their food sources, chasing other birds from feeders they’ve adopted for their own. Last year, a mockingbird laid claim to the holly bush by our front window and spent days “defending” it against its own reflection in the window. We eventually had to put frosted film on the window to stop the bird from crashing into it feet-first every few seconds.
Still, there are many joys to having mockingbirds in the neighborhood, not the least of which are their beautiful songs. On a recent afternoon, I thought there must be at least half-a-dozen different birds in the backyard, but it was merely a mockingbird perched on the fence, warbling through its repertoire. They’re helpful in eliminating pests from your gardens, too, including beetles, wasps, and ants.
Tips for Attracting Northern Mockingbirds:
Thanks to the Duncraft Wild Bird Blog for the above image.
