On January 18th 2010 one of the first birds I photographed at close range was a Northern Mockingbird, it perched on bench posing for my novice eye. I was surprised it would stay so long striking several poses. Months later I would discover how gregarious these lovely creatures are. Throughout the winter a lovely Mockingbird would wait for me on the Hot Springs Mountain Trail just below the Pagoda. Often it would hide until we were alone, then it would sing out to me to announce it’s presences. In the Spring when I started regularly exiting the park from North Mountain a Mockingbird would wait for me on a bush near the fountain. It’s song of greeting at the end of my hike carried me through my day. During the late Spring and Summer along the Promenade a Northern Mockingbird began a regular song exchange with my husband Rick. We nicknamed this prolific tune master Charlie, he/she has a spectacular array of songs. Newly hatched Northern Mockingbird chicks I photographed in July of 2010 are now juveniles that still visit me along the Promenade and Tufa Terrace. Get to know a Northern Mockingbird they are delightful, spontaneous and curious. They live an average of 10-14 years so there is plenty of time to exchange musical muse. Bother the male and female of the species communicate via song.
Mockingbirds love sit in the highest branches singing loudly to make their presence known. They have been expanding their territory within the United States since the 1930s. The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. A group of Mockingbirds has many collective nouns, including an “echo”, “exactness”, “plagiary”, and a “ridicule” of Mockingbirds. Northern Mockingbirds breed from northern California, eastern Nebraska, southern Ontario, and Maritime Canada southward. Spends winters in the southern part of range. They are found in residential areas, city parks, farmlands, open country, Forests, Mountains with thickets, and Desert Brush. More Fun Facts About Mockingbirds
Much Love,
Lee