Expert: Julia Booth - 2/16/2010

Question
Large well established seed feeders underneath house eaves.  Mockingbird has taken over and will not  allow wrens, sparrows,cardinals,chickadees or doves to use hanging or ground stations.  He attacks with wings flashing.  Have checked all surrounding hedges for nests. Not time of year for nesting. He perches on platform feeder and pecks and thrashes seeds. There are no insects to attract in food.  I have carefully watched and no other birds have been able to feed for five days. Can't discourage him. I love his songs but hate this behavior. Please advise soon.

Answer
I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But the truth is, your options are limited. Mockingbirds are US residents, meaning they are protected wildlife and not considered a pest (even though they definitely are a pest). And they are especially territorial and aggressive during mating season, which it actually is right now. Nesting can start as early as February and run as late as August. There is probably a nest in progress right now.

The good news is that once they're eggs are laid and hatched, they will probably be on their way. The bad news is that there's little you can do about it.

You might consider moving the feeders closer to the house. You could get an owl decoy. But that would frighten away other birds as well.

That's about all I can tell you


Julia