The northern mockingbird is a welcomed sight in most backyards throughout the state. However, although the mockingbird is a permanent resident, sometimes they disappear from our yards during the winter. In some cases, the reason for this may be that mockingbirds alter the size of the size of their feeding territory according to the weather.
Studies conducted in North Carolina’s Piedmont found that the territories defended by these feisty birds actually shrank by more than half during extremely cold weather from October through December. The birds’ territories then increased a bit in January. By the time spring arrived, the territories had grown to encompass those areas they vacated during the winter.
Biologists believe that a prime reason for mockingbird territories shrinking during the winter is that the smaller the territory the less energy a bird has to expend to defend its food supply. In the case of the mockingbird, a key food component in a territory is the availability of fruits and berries.
Thanks for the information. It sounds like the mockingbirds that live in your neighborhood are more more fortunate than most. Who would have thought that such habitat exists in a larger metropolitan area?
“Our” mockingbird clearly seems to center its current territory around our prolific Tanenashi (Astringent) persimmon tree which holds edible fruit for several cold months and is currently still loaded.
Persimmon is a great food for wildlife such as mockingbirds. Unfortunately folks cut them down not realizing their value to wildlife and the fact it takes a persimmon tree a long time to produce fruit.
Thanks for the response, I hope other bloggers will read it.
Then they’re all concentrated in our central DeKalb old growth forest yard/neighborhood with lots of nuts, holly berries, and beautyberry.
Thanks for the information. It sounds like the mockingbirds that live in your neighborhood are more more fortunate than most. Who would have thought that such habitat exists in a larger metropolitan area?
Terry
“Our” mockingbird clearly seems to center its current territory around our prolific Tanenashi (Astringent) persimmon tree which holds edible fruit for several cold months and is currently still loaded.
Persimmon is a great food for wildlife such as mockingbirds. Unfortunately folks cut them down not realizing their value to wildlife and the fact it takes a persimmon tree a long time to produce fruit.
Thanks for the response, I hope other bloggers will read it.
Terry