capri0mni | Something is up with one of my Mockingbird neighbors...

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It's just the start of Autumn. It's also still dark enough outside that the streetlamps are still on.

And yet, I hear a mockingbird, somewhere close -- sounds like he (?) might be in the holly tree just outside my office window.*

He's "Scrolling through" his repertoire of different bird calls -- loudly. But, unlike the "Let me show off my skills & endurance" songs that mockingbirds perform in the spring, this one has no quality that I would consider "Musical." And besides, I can't remember ever hearing any mockingbird call like that after early June.

... And, in the time it's taken me to type this, it's gone quiet, and the streetlamps have gone out.

Still, I hope everything's okay for my feathery neighbors.

*The berries, are full size, now. And are turning a darker shade of green. Before long, they'll be truly red, and ready for their Christmas card closeups.

Crossposts: http://capriuni.livejournal.com/785605.html

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

spiralsheep

Around here that sort of bird calling is almost always caused by the presence of a cat (which is why I didn't mention it to the cat-lover in my first comment! ;-P ). I dunno if you have any other predators round there but one of them was probably in the vicinity, no?

From:

capri0mni

Oh, no need to pussyfoot around me (sorry, couldn't resist).

I do love cats. And that means loving cats as-they-are, which includes acknowledging their predatory nature. Our cats are confined to the footprint of our house, but there are others who are free-roaming (much to the annoyance of Lily and Daisy).

In the meantime, this reminds me of a science/animal post I meant to make nearly a month ago. Here's a link to the source material for your enjoyment, in the meantime.

http://www.npr.org/2015/09/03/434400838/warning-calls-decoded-squirrels-take-up-bird-alarms-to-foil-the-enemy

From:

spiralsheep

That's interesting. I've used owls' territorial behaviour to count how many are in the vicinity. I've never noticed squirrels making bird noises, although I have seen them join in alarm-calling with birds when there's a cat about. Perhaps grey squirrels haven't integrated enough here yet for birds to see them as anything other than potential predators. I've never lived anywhere the squirrel population is predominantly red squirrels, who've been around longer and are supposedly less predatory towards birds.

From:

capri0mni

Yes. I imagine it does make a difference, whether the mammals and birds in question co-evolved together, or not. I was simply heart-warmed by the story for being a counterweight to the meme: Nature raw, in tooth and claw.

Turns out its more like: Nature: all for one and one for all.

(I know that's not really analogous, but it's a decent rhyme match)

From:

spiralsheep

I've seen mixed mobs of birds go after a buzzard or sparrowhawk but as soon as they've driven off the top predator then the mob will turn on the next perceived danger such as ravens/crows, or back to territorial competition with their rival species, so their co-operation was always strictly limited.

Humans are capable of being both the most selfish and most altruistic animals ime.

From:

capri0mni

Truth. ~~Always~~ More often than not, though, counterweights to oversimplifying slogans are beneficial...

Oh, dear. I've failed totally to talk like a pirate, today, haven't I?

...Aye?

From:

spiralsheep

It's not Talk Like A Pirate Day today. Hence my note for next year about KARRL MARRX (you can tell he's a pirate because of the beard and egalitarianism!).