What’s Up? – A Story to Remember
A Story to Remember
I have the most compelling story to tell you.
On May 16th: I was late afternoon, I was in my kitchen talking with my wife Lucy and I happened to look outside to the backyard and I saw something on the grass. It looked strange, so I decided to investigate…I found a dead young Northern Mockingbird, I checked it, he was cold already, intact, no wounds or any kind of trauma that would indicate violence or attack of any kind. First thing I thought, where are the parents? I looked around, none of the parents was around…Very strange.
On May 17th: At early morning, after I cleaned the area and utensils, I proceeded to refill all feeders and officially open the daily meals for the birds. That’s when I get my camera ready, it’s the moment when all birds find their way to the feeders, for me, is also a good time to get excellent lighting on my photos.
Suddenly I see a mockingbird perched in a branch, it was a young one, similar the bird I picked up from the ground the day before. I said to myself. What?
Photo Gallery
(Please press the first frame on left upper side)
Eating Lunch With…
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
What an amazing capture HJ to see the way these birds care for each other even outside their specie.
Isn’t it something? Thanks Ashley. 🙂
Wow, amazing! Such care for another’s young. Very touching.
Thank you very much, K. 🙂
That’s one of the most amazing things I’ve seen. How wonderful that you were able to witness it.
I’ve seen many things happened in my backyard, this one made me jump from sadness to happiness! Thank you, Linda. 🙂
That’s awesome! I’ve been watching my Downy Woodpeckers for a few months, and their young one (or two? maybe three?) is coming to the feeder now. I could tell the young because they still have bits of down on their heads! LOVE your blog!!
That’s great! I have a couple of them nesting in my backyard this year, I hope they get their brood soon. Thank you for sharing, Leslie. 🙂
What a lovely story you made from all those excellent pictures, thank you.
Thanks so much, Susan. 🙂
This is quite an interesting story and I feel happy that the thrasher took it upon itself to come to the rescue. I am wondering if it will adopt the young. Regardless, I hope it all works out for the sibling Mockingbirds. We had a Mockingbird come here, way up north, probably thrown off-course by a storm.People came to this woman’s yard from miles around. She demonstrated feeding it meal worms and this lost fellow did survive and eventually made it’s way south again.
Update for you: I’ve seen other mockingbirds take over the “territory” but they are not with the orphans, today I saw the Thrasher getting suet-mix to the mockingbirds up on a tree. So they are together yet.
I’m in Georgia, what State are you in the North? Thank you for sharing, Jane. 🙂
I am in the province of Alberta, Canada
Oh, wow what a great capture. It is totally amazing how the birds care for each other….great example to us humans. This post made my day. Hugs
I will remember this story always! By the way the birds are doing fine! Thank you, Mags. Hugs.
What a great story HJ, a lesson for us humans!
Birds are amazing! Thank you very much, Chris. 🙂
What a great gallery, and proof again just how strong the parenting instinct is in some birds that they’d even care for another specie’s chicks!
I was happy that I was able to illustrate what happened with my photos. It was a great experience for me too. Thank you D. 🙂
What an incredible, heart-warming story!! Loved it, H.J. ❤
Thank you very much, Tiny. It was a great experience. 🙂
It’s always so sad to find dead birds or animals in our gardens! What fabulous shots of the mocking bird and the thrasher and such a wonderful story!
Thank you so much, Clare. 🙂
My pleasure! 🙂
Wonderful series, HJ, I love that the Thrasher’s instinct kicked in to help out the young Mockingbirds, so sweet! ❤
Thanks so much, Donna. 🙂