Spring Is Here And It's Officially Mockingbird Attack Season | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Spring Is Here And It's Officially Mockingbird Attack Season

Beware the fury of the Imitator.

367
Spring Is Here And It's Officially Mockingbird Attack Season
Wikimedia Commons

It was a normal day. The sun shone happily from above as I traversed campus. I passed by a cluster of palm trees as I had done so many times before. That was my heinous mistake. Unaware of what danger awaited me, I continued walking down the path to the parking lot. Suddenly, I was ambushed by an aerial attack. Gray wings battered my head as raucous calls deafened my ears. A black beak pecked at me as I ran away. Blindly swatting at my assailant, I managed to make it to safety, a few yards away from the palm trees. The bird perched upon the light post glaring threateningly at me through yellow eyes.

My harrowing experience is not uncommon. Mockingbird across the country have attacked seemingly non-threatening people and pets. Sometimes, if their victim does not take the very clear hint to stay away, mockingbirds will claw and peck viciously to deter a future return from the intruder. This makes it difficult for joggers to complete their normal routine in the spring. The weather may be nice, but the mockingbirds are angry. Despite their aggressive nature, the state of Florida has declared this avian species the official state bird. Mockingbirds, as their name suggests, are known for their propensity to imitate other birds and sounds. From sirens to barking, these feathered creatures just don’t know how to be birds. Their songs are composed of other bird's musical shrills, the croaking of a chorus of frogs, and a myriad of man-made noises such as the ringing of doorbells. Mockingbirds are nature's ultimate remix artists. Like a playlist with wings, they can remember over 200 sounds and mimic them with extreme accuracy. They are fearless for their size and are not afraid to dive-bomb any opponent. There was even one incident where a mockingbird attacked a hawk – and won.

Mockingbirds may be a startling nuisance to us, but they are really just overly protective parents. The pair mated for life, might I add, take turns sitting on their eggs while the other spouse keeps watch for predators. They are absolutely dedicated to each other and their offspring. If anything wanders near the nest, they will attack. They have to protect their helpless fledglings. It’s their duty and instinct as parents. But, you don’t have to worry for too long because mockingbirds have a surprisingly short term of dependence, only about three weeks from egg to fledgling. After that, they are on their own as young adults that will one day grow up to terrorize another neighborhood.

So the next time you hear an out of place bark of a dog or chirp of a car alarm, look to the sky and run.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

4489
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

450717
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22346
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

45241
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments