Northern Mockingbird
My Most Constant and Loyal Bird Friend in Mississippi
I moved to this house in Mississippi almost a year ago, and I was surprised that for months, the only bird that frequented my yard was a mockingbird. On a brutally cold day in January, I went into my backyard, and he was there to greet me.
Little shards of sleet fell upon the frozen ground. A mockingbird greeted me at my back door. Chittering chinks of ice filled the air.
Jacki Kellum Journal January 15, 2024
I opened my cupboards and found anything I thought my bird would eat during that freeze, and I ordered a bird feeding station.
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I was bonded to my mockingbird. I vowed never to suffer another freeze without food for him. Meanwhile, I had created a spot that a few more varieties of birds would find desirable. By mid-March, I had seen a few bluejays and cardinals at my feeder.
Carolina Chickadee
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Early in March, I spotted a Carolina Chickadee at the feeder, and he began a repeat visitor.
On about March 25, I noticed that my Carolina Chickadee had created a nest in one of my birdhouses. I was thrilled:
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Mourning Dove – Image Credit: Channel City Camera Club
On March 19, I noticed a pair of Mourning Doves grazing on the ground around my backyard feeder.
“The Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also one of the most popular gamebirds, with more than 20 million birds (up to 70 million in some years) shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure is due to its prolific breeding; in warm areas, one pair may raise up to 6 broods of 2 young each in a single year.” Animalia
Pine Siskin – Image Credit: Wikipedia
On March 20, I first noticed a Pine Siskin at my feeder. On March 21, two Pine Siskins had appeared.
“Pine siskins are small songbirds with pointed bills, short tails, and brown bodies with yellow on their wings and tails. They are found throughout North America, including Mississippi, and are known for their cheerleading chirps and acrobatic flights.” Google ai
On March 21, I began adding some live mealworms and fresh blueberries to the bird banquet, and on March 22, cardinals and bluejays joined the dinner guests, but I am learning why my mockingbird has been my only backyard bird before now. He chased the other guests relentlessly. My mockingbird doesn’t like to share. But I can’t be angry with him. While I was working in my garden today, he perched on an electrical wire above my head and sang his heart out. I noticed that my once-quiet garden teemed with birds’ songs. I loved that change,
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On March 27, a Carolina Chickadee moved into one of my birdhouses.
House Wren
Image Credit: All About Birds
On April 1, a House Wren moved into another of my birdhouses.
Tufted Titmouse
Image Credit: Wikipedia
On April 1, a Tufted Titmouse visited my birdfeeder.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail – Image Credit: Wikipedia
On March 21, I first noticed a Pine Siskin at my feeder.
On March 21, A Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Appeared
Image Credit: Flickr
This pair of swallowtails are looking for breeding plants. They darted all around my back garden for days. I have celery growing in my back garden, and celery is a host plant.
I have rue growing in my front garden, and last fall, I had at least two bunches of swallowtail caterpillars there.
I provide shallow water bowls for them to drink in my backyard.