Expert: Julia Booth - 4/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: No sooner was the 2nd baby dead, then the father was atop our pine tree singing again.  He has been singing - not excessively or significantly - on/off, since Saturday.  Since both fledglings dies, what is the likelihood that a) the original parents/pair will remain bonded?  b) that they will lay eggs again, right away?  c) that they'll nest in the same nest and/or tree?
Also, can the fall from the nest - 8 or 9 feet in this case - injure the baby?  And how much of a risk factor is the heat.  We're in AZ and on the verge of our 1st 100 degree day, but settling into the 90s from hereon out. . .
Thank you so much for your expertise, input and advice.  I'm a new convert to bird watching, but trying to makeup for lost time!  I'm still mourning the loss of their 2 babies.

ANSWER: Oh you should have mentioned the heat. Yes, the heat could play a role -especially if the fledglings aren't able to get water on thier own. If they are old enough and large enough to leave the nest, a fall from the tree shouldn't kill them. Mockinbirds tend to be hearty.

They are a monogamous species and will probably remain bonded. The male is very active in the nesting process. They may make another attempt at a second clutch, since it is only the end of April.

Do you see the mother? Because the singing is usually associated with trying to attract a female.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The day that the fledglings perished was breezy (atypical during AZ "springs") and "only" reached 92 degrees - the fledge, who lived for several hours, remained in the shade the entire time.  I put a marg. container lid w/ water nearby, in case he was able to drink.  
Re: the female/mom
Timing is everything, right. . .we have seen a 2nd mocker a few x's, in fact, after we removed the body of the 2nd fledge, she paced back n' forth along the wall above where he was last and stopped in the nearest tree for a couple hrs afterward.  Anyway, I couldn't say if it is the "original" mama bird, another female - another male?  
However! as I was typing just now the male was on our patio (on the ground!) crooning.  That I haven't seen - he had only serenaded from atop the tallest tree or rooftops.  Sure enough there was another mocker (female, presumably) also on the ground just now - not 5 feet away.  They've both flown off.  
Do they ever lay a 2nd/3rd batch of eggs in the same/previous clutch?  Or, would you assume they're setting up "shop" in an alt. location - even though they're still hanging around our yard?  They come, they go. . .

Answer
A clutch is a group of eggs laid together. The nest is the place where they are laid. I think the terms are sometimes confused.

They can have more than one clutch during the same breeding season. It will usually be at the same nest. If you see another mockingbird with the male, it's probably his mate. The females aren't too different in appearance. If it were another male, there would be hostility. Mockingbirds are aggressive and territorial and the males especially so during nesting.