[TN-Bird] Mockingbird/squuirrel/starling wars.

Happy Sunday,
 
Here in the Charlotte Park area of West Nashville, a mockingbird/squirrel  
battle was very entertaining this morning.  A squirrel was going for the  
peanut 
butter I'd placed on the deck rail, and a mockingbird arrived to  obtain 
another beakful to take back to its babies across the street.  The  mockingbird 
went after the squirrel, chased it up across the roof to the other  side of the 
deck and out the deck rail until the squirrel leapt onto a hackberry  tree.  
All the way, the mocker was doing contortions up and over, then  around and 
under the squirrel, getting off several pecks at it.  Most of  the pecks were 
aimed at the squirrel's back side just above where its tail  attaches.  After 
the 
mocker finished with the squirrel, it came back to  chase marauding starlings 
away.  With help from its mate, it got rid, of  the starlings.  The 
mockingbirds then formed an alliance with one standing  guard over the peanut 
butter 
and filling its beak while the other toted food to  the babies.  Upon the 
return 
of one to "reload its beak," the other  went to feed the young.  This went on 
until that clump of peanut butter was  gone.  The starlings got none.  A 
second pair of mockingbirds  apparently have babies downhill, so they are 
beginning to come for the PB.   They are all descended from one big family of 
mockers, 
so there seem  to be no "range wars," so far.  Those will probably come later!
 
Good birding to all,
 
Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN


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