Where's my Mockingbird?

[ARDonoghue]

Gary has posted that there's a new yard life bird in his Nunn habitat and I sure wish it would come to visit me. I really like Northern Mockingbirds. I didn't see them growing up in Michigan, but when we moved to New Jersey I got the full exposure. My yard was always occupied by 2 or 3 breeding pairs. I enjoyed their constant variety of calls, even when they went on all night long, the flash of wings as they flew off, the babies on the ground begging for food upon first leaving the nest.

I've wanted to have one in my yard here in Colorado, but so far no luck. I had a close call one summer afternoon. I was on the phone with my sister (who still lives in Michigan) when I heard the familiar 5-repeat phrases of the mockingbird and got extremely excited. Holding the phone to one ear I ran outside to see if I could find it! It called one more time, more faintly, then nothing. I was puzzled and disappointed. Then it hit me. We had just put up a new clock, one of those clocks that has a different bird call each hour. Yes, 2:00 is the Northern Mockingbird. Sister Amy has never let me forget this.

Maybe Gary's Mockingbirds will come to visit me this year. I would be very grateful if you would nudge them a little southwest Gary.