[TN-Bird] My old mockingbirds

My dear old elder pair of mockingbirds raised their babies across the street 
in the usual tree, fed them peanut butter, jelly and fruit from my 
"Smorga-bird", brought them here to feed themselves and finally dispersed them 
on their 
unmerry way by banishing them from said feeding area several weeks ago.  I 
noticed that my "old couple" seemed rather bedraggled and tired looking from 
their 
ordeal.  They continued to come when called and continued to gobble up the 
peanut butter and jelly, etc.  One began to look sleeker of feather and had a 
little more "zip" while the other still had the look of a truly aging bird.  
About a month ago, only one bird came to my call.  It was the healthier looking 
one.  It ate sparingly, then went to the top of a utility pole in front of the 
house where it has seemingly taken up "station."  It stays up there and sings 
loudly imitating every bird it could ever possibly have heard.  It is also 
very cantankerous.  It chases everything that comes near the top of that pole.  
Every now and then, it does its little fly-ups from its perch then drops right 
back down to sing.  Flycatching, perhaps?  It still comes when called, eats 
and returns to its perch to sing its bloody little heart out.  It looks good 
and 
healthy now, but I think it must be lonely.  It does chase all the other 
mockingbirds (its neighboring nesters) away as it and its mate have always 
done.  
They all manage to feed here, but the old patriarch/matriarch rules the roost, 
so the others have to sneak their food for themselves and their babies.  
Meanwhile, my dear old bird eats, sings and guards its perch atop the utility 
pole.

The question is:  Is this aged mockingbird grieving for a lost mate and 
trying to sing it back home, or is it already trying to sing a new mate into 
its 
territory?

Missing my mocker,

Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN

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