I wonder why I find Mockingbirds in trouble so often. Is it due to the large numbers of them in my area or do I notice what most people overlook? Is it their super-charged behavior that puts them in danger?
A car whizzed by while I approached the baby. Can’t people see what’s going on? Without hesitation, I stood in the middle of the road, raised my arm in a confident, professional manner and stopped traffic.
So there I was with a camera dangling around my neck, trying to catch a frightened baby Mockingbird. Have you ever seen a young child bending over with outstretched arms to catch a runaway toad? That was me, and a short 53 year-old-woman wearing too-long capris and clunky sandals is definitely caricature-worthy. The spirited youngster had me bending, reaching, and zigzagging all over the road for at least a minute which is enough time to make some folks in the line of stopped traffic laugh like hyenas or curse under their breath. No matter. I had a job to do.
Now. Stay out of the road!
You can easily read contempt on its little face.
I would have taken more photos of the Mockingbird parents screaming and giving me the evil-eye, but I had to allow traffic back into the community. I waved them on without looking at the faces in the five car back-up. A one or two minute hold-up could make some busy corporate folks feel a little road rage, you know. I did catch a glimpse of an older Latino man who was first in the line of traffic. He smiled and gave me a thumbs-up. Nice. On the way to the car I held my head high.
28 comments:
Thank you so much for my early morning laugh here on the other side of the world. I think I just woke up the entire building. I love your humor - but especially I love your big ole heart!!!!
You go, girl! I would have done the same thing. I'll bet most of the five folks waiting would give you a thumbs up, too.
Now, those pictures are just too cute for words. I love mocking birds, but I've never seen any that young.
You're the best, Mary!! And so are your photos. Wow! Glad you got to save another baby mockingbird.
Oh, Mary. Once again, you've made me snort my wine. I would love to focus on your philanthropic nature, but I am imagining you and the little bird hopping all over the street and I can't stop laughing long enough.
I'm sure you made a great traffic cop. I've always thought that would be a real ego trip...just stand there and control everyone on the road.
OK, I'm composed to thank you for saving that little fledgling. Hee hee, hee hee.
Way to go, Mary!! I can just imagine you, running all over the place, trying to corral a wayward fledgling, with irate Mockingbird parents overhead.
I caused a nest of mockers to fledge prematurely when I inadvertently watered them one summer. (They had nested in a hanging basket, and I had managed to keep them dry while keeping the plants alive until that day.) The parents were livid, and I was lucky to escape with my life (and my hair!)
Too bad there wasn't a fellow blogger present to take pictures of YOU! Now, that would have been blog-worthy!
BOTB has photos of me, running down the road in West Virginia in hiking boots, binoculars swinging to and fro, as I ran back to move a box turtle off the road. I live in fear of those shots turning up on the Internet. I can just imagine how graceful I looked.(NOT!)
~kathi
Mary--I think your name has been changed to BIRD WOMAN OF NC!
Well done.
I do love the look on the baby mocker's face, but I don't think it's contempt.
It looks more like--"I do so know how to fly!"
What a cute little mockingbird! I think I would have to stop too.
I miss the mockingbirds. I had them in Alabama, but so far none have ventured to Robin's Nesting Place.
Oh Mary...That was so nice. It probably would have been killed. I don't have any mockers here that I have seen, but I will ask a friend if they are risk takers.
My husband is a volunteer fireman and spent a couple of hours rescuing ducklings from a storm grate. It's nice that we help wildlife when they run into hazards that we create.,,Michelle
ROFL Mary! I can just picture that, lol! You must be very observant... I don't know that I'd notice any of those things going on.
Yay for Mary the Mocker Rescuer!
Hi kindred spirit....I am glad I am not the only one who risks life and limb to save some little creature......I love you Mary,,,,,,
Mary, I would say that all 3( large numbers, you being more observant and their being super-charged)are probably true. The little guys seems to be saying, "Well, don't just stand there-help!) And then to be so ungrateful by giving you the evil eye. I'm sure you were quite a sight stopping traffic and chasing baby bird, but he was worth the effort and you did good!
Good for you! I doubt anyone in the waiting cars would have jumped out to pick on you. I have yet to see a Mockingbird.
You know, I monitored 2 mockingbird nests this summer and both of them were really close to sidewalks and roads . . maybe the parents choose those sites because the landscapers take good care of the plants?? Nice job on the rescue mission . . If I was in that line of traffic I'd have had pictures of you and your antics!
It amazes me that there are so many people in the world who would not have even noticed him in the road, let alone, get out to move him to a safer place. Bravo Mary! Hold that head up high girl! :c)
Mary, this is why I like to read blogs first thing in the morning--you've put a smile on my face for the rest of the day! The mental image I have of you stopping traffic is pretty funny, but I bet more than a few of those drivers thought you were a hero.
I went back to read the other rescue post, a heartwarming story. Nothing like a rescue and a little cha-cha to break up the work day!
Oh, you are so kind! Maybe this will count for the 2nd best 120 seconds of the summer! I give you a thumbs up too!!
Your shots are great! I've never seen a baby mocker before.
Wow--you are so brave and nice to save that poor mockingbird baby. I don't think I would have even seen it in the road. Joan
Hi Mary! Good for you and I'm sure there was a little bit of gratitude from both mama and baby. I can picture you in the middle of the road stopping traffic, but I wish I was there for the actual chase. Have a good night. Lisa
Oh Mary what a picture you painted with these words. I can just see you teetering over trying to snatch that little mocker out of harms way.
It looks too young to be out of the nest to me. It should have stayed in a few more days. Maybe something disturbed the nest. It was lucky you came along.
Dear Mary,
I love you!
Thanks for taking care of little Mockingbird. He did not realize traffic would be so terrible!
I think all of your rescues are recorded in St. Peter's book. Taking care of the birds and the bugs is high on St, Peter's list.
You are a good human!
So proud to call you "friend".
Hugs,
Sherry
Yeah, Mary, you have rescued me, too, when I tumbled from my nest (so to speak!). You are a natural hero. J
Mary, you just kill me. You are a good egg.
And yes, that is some definite disapproval on Young Mocker's face!
Way to go Mary--Rescuer of Baby Birds! Obviously that little one wasn't going to listen to its parents, so I'm glad you were there to help set that budding juvenile delinquent back on the "straight & narrow" path.
Weeee! I wish I were there. Then there'd be a chubby fifty year old woman flapping in her Birkenstocks chasing with you!
Well done May.
Great job Mary! Maybe that baby mockingbird will follow you home and serenade you at 3am every morning.
Stopping to help is always always always worth it. I love that the man gave you a thumbs up. People aren't always thinking you're a jerk, you know. Some of them think it's sweet, including all of us!
The egret photos in the next post are stupendous graphic statements, and I love them.
Love the story, and the photos.
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