I recall some recent comments about how mocking birds are particularly sneaky when it comes to stealing fruit, and thought I'd share an experience. A few days ago I decided to cover a persimmon with bird netting because the birds were even eating the unripe, astringent fruit. I made a framework and covered it with netting, stopping about a foot from the ground with the intention of finishing off the bottom section with plastic sheeting (it keeps my scaley friends from getting their heads stuck in the netting).

A day or so later when I came back with the plastic, there were several mocking birds and a woodpecker inside the cage, having a feast. When the mockers saw me coming they all immediately swooped down and flew out through the narrow gap, while the dim-witted woodpecker flew squawking into the mesh and resisted all efforts to show him how to get out. After I had make a couple trips to the garage for tools, he still hadn't figured out how to escape, and I finally had to hose him down till he was too wet to fly, and then shoo him out under the netting. So, at least if you're comparing mocking birds to woodpeckers, there's no contest as to which species ended up with the brains!

As a post-script, it was pretty comical to watch the various birds' reactions after they realized the free lunch was over. It took about a day before they finally gave up and quit hanging around the cage; evidently they were hoping I'd change my mind and let them back in again. Fat chance!

Nice story

They get so crazy when they are surprised like that, don't they?  Those mockingbirds are really bright and crafty.  That's why I call them little feathered thugs.  Way too smart.

noss

Ken I found mocking birds in my enclosure too. and for the life of me I couldn't find out how they had gotten in. While watching through the window one day I saw one get in. He got in at a lap in the netting.by pulling on the net until he found the opening and squeezed in. They are smart.
"gene"

Ken,

That reminds me of one of my pet squirrels was in the garage last year and trying to figure out how to uncover the tupper ware bowl filled with cookies.

Boy you had to be there to see its reaction when it saw me. didn't know which way to go.

I was LMAO!

Gene, your mocking bird sounds like a genius! I'm glad mine aren't quite that good at breaking and entering. Noss' description of "feathered thugs" is right on the mark.

Rafed, I'm just glad to be plagued with birds rather than squirrels (except for once when I had a brief squirrel problem). At least birds can't chew holes in the plastic netting!

2007Giants--I always enjoy people's stories about maurading critters, and so I assume others feel the same way. It's especially nice when the story has a happy ending (at least for the fruit-grower)!

Hi Ken,

I enjoy reading about the escapades of people's critters.  And people call them, "dumb" animanls.  Look who gives whom fits.

noss

Noss,

I would have to disagree with you on the "FIT" part.
I never let an animal get the best of me. After all, They need to eat too. They don't know what's going on.

Given the fact that there's no chance of the figs ripening at this stage then I let them ( squirrels ) have their way.

Yes they did cross the line when they picked the Sals Corleone. But what are you going to do? An animal is an animal.

Maybe next year I will take a tougher approach by building chicken wire around the trees or what ever. I may have said many times I would put a slug through them but that's just talk and mostly humor.

I will not kill an animal unless someone is willing to eat it.
Right now the local supermarket has plenty of beef, chicken, pork and fish for me to enjoy rather than to resort to squirrel eating.

Rafed!  Is that you?  :)

noss

Noss,

Yes!

See, I do have a softer side.

Although the thought of putting a few slugs in them has come across my mind a few times. LOL'

Ken, those Mockingbirds are smart little fig thieves. I enjoyed your story.

@ Rafed, have lots of possums and raccoons around here if you care to eat some,lol. I'm not much on killing animals either. I trap them and relocate them, but the population continues to grow. The raccoons have eaten several of my prized Koi(wouldn't the common ones have tasted just as good?). Possums seem to only bother my pears and so far, have left my figs alone.

Rafed,

You are a doll.  I really did want to whack that squirrel that was getting my figs at the end of this summer.  I have this bad habit of looking into a creature's bright eyes that are full of life and that just spoils everything for me and most of them are so darned cute, or funny, or both.

noss