Barking Momma Mocking Bird

[FlDebra]

Yesterday, I trimmed back my Sago Palm to remove the leaves that were brown from the past winter's frost. Unfortunately, I clipped off fronds that wound up housing a bird's nest with 2 little eggs in it. I stopped and used the fronds to try to secure the nest into a wedge of where 2 of the sagos branched out -- moving it about 6-8 inches from where it was originally. I left a few fronds in place to provide some shade & protection for the nest.

All afternoon, a mocking bird barked (with the exact pitch as my yokies) at me, obviously incensed over my moving her babies and drastically altering her once safe palm tree. She would not go back to the Sago, instead barking at me from a nearby pine & the telephone lines. She kept up this barking (and I am not exaggerating how much she sounded like my dogs!) for hours. Then a crazy spring storm came through last night and I have not heard from her since. The nest is still there, eggs intact, but no momma I feel terrible!

What is worse -- this same thing happened last year when I trimmed the Sagos back -- and the eggs did hatch, even though I had thought she had abandoned them. But..... the baby birds disappeared after a few days. I don't know if they were just too open and a predator got them, or what, but I think they were too little to fly. I had forgotten until I saw the nest again this year.

I don't know what to do as the palms have to get trimmed. Can't very well leave all the brown layers of fronds on them every year! But ths mocking bird (if it is the same one) is probably really hating me now. I don't know why she is chosing the Sagos, especially since they are so close to the ground and right on the patio by the pool. My dogs are all around the Sagos all the time! Why she doesn't choose the tall palms I have on the other side of the pool, I do not know. Poor momma mocking bird! Hope she sits on the eggs again!

[YorkichonBella]

Did you know that the Sago Palm trees are toxic to our babies?
In honor of precious sweet Baby Chloe, we never want this to happen to another baby. Pls read her story:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...-hospital.html

[YorkichonBella]

I didn't mean to take away from your story, which I enjoyed reading. I understand about the nest & babies & truly hope the mother returns.

But it's so important to know about the dangers of sago palm poisoning. Baby Chloe did not make it, but her story will be told to help others.

[Maximo]

I can picture your mockingbird barking, lol. We had one that would sing for us every night at 5 pm sharp. He would go through all of the other birds' songs, singing faster and faster with each round. One night he perfectly mimicked the sound of the siren of a passing firetruck.

I wonder if birds start to build their nests in unsafe places when they are around humans a lot. Our robins nest too low to the ground and on exposed branches, and I think it may be that they have a false sense of security with us being in the backyard so much.

We have large holly balls next to our patio and we have to stop birds from nesting in them every spring, otherwise we will have angry momma birds attacking us. You could try doing the same. Once you see them start building, start pulling the nest out. They will take the hint and move elsewhere.

[jencar98]

Debra, this is too funny, they are named mockingbirds for a good reason, hmm?! The bird barking reminds me of a story my dh tells of his boyhood home. His Dad would whistle loudly when he needed dh and his brother to come in from the nearby woods. A mockingbird learned how to whistle just like their Dad. Dh says several times they would hear a whistle, come running home, only to have Dad tell them he hadn't whistled. They finally figured it out....it was the bird

Silly birds do build nests in the strangest places. We've had wrens build nests under a propane tank lid, a charcoal grill and numerous hanging flower baskets.

YorkichonBella....I remember Chloe's story and thought of it too, when I read "sago palms"

[QuickSilver]

Can you wait to trim the frond back until nesting season is over?

[Lou]

OK Debra, Mark your YT calendar and trim those things in Mid-March next year! LOL.

We used to have a conure. When we moved to a new house he started making this sweet little trilling noise and we never could figure out where he got it until one day our neighbor heard him and told me it was the sound that mother raccoons make when they are rounding up their babies. We had a strawberry patch in the side yard and our conure's cage was beside the window. We never got any strawberries becasues the raccoons got to them first. Evidently they were treats for mammas and babies! LOL

[ladyjane]

I am sorry for that mama bird, but sadly that is one of the problems they face.

BUT....I am with the other poster in my fear of sago palms. The seeds from them are horribly toxic.

Perhaps you know this, Debra, and watch them closely. Just wanted to make sure you are aware.

[FlDebra]

I don't know how I missed all the replies to the thread I started! I guess the replies came during days I wasn't online much and I missed out! I will remember about the Sago toxicity. I watch my pups like a hawk when they are outside anyway as they are always trying to eat something they are not supposed to! Speaking of hawks -- that is another danger, along with the many snakes, fire ants, spiders, cow killer ants (actually the wasp family), our pool, etc.... you can see why I am right next to them when they are out and about. I got the Sago Palm as a present from the realtor 20 years ago when we moved into this house. It was just a little thing but has grown to be a huge plant with several thick trunks along with many babies! I will be especially vigilant but none of them have ever bothered it in all of the years we have had it, Here is the warning:
"Cycad Sago Palm is extremely poisonous to animals (this includes humans) if ingested. Pets are at particular risk since they seem to find the plant very palatable.[2] Clinical symptoms of ingestion will develop within 12 hours and may include vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, seizures, liver failure, or hepatotoxicity characterized by icterus, cirrhosis, and ascites. The pet may appear bruised, have nose bleeds (epistaxis), melena (blood in the stool), hematochezia (bloody straining), and hemarthrosis (blood in the joints).[3] The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center estimates a fatality rate of 50 to 75 percent when ingestion of the Sago Palm is involved. The incidence of Sago Palm ingestion by pets has risen by over 200% in the last five years.[4] If any quantity of the plant is ingested, a poison control center or doctor should be contacted immediately. Effects of ingestion can include permanent internal damage and death."

Reading that will make me worry more but also more watchful when they are near the palm. I also have several Pindo Palms but I am not seeing anything about them being toxic. Still -- I never let the pups chew on any of the plants, except plain grass.

Thanks for all of the anecdotes about the mocking birds. I find them so facinating. Mine sure sound like the pups! They have that bark down pat!

On a sad note, the eggs seem to be abandoned. I have not heard my barking mocking bird anymore and have not seen anyone sitting on the eggs. I will keep watching. They have shelter from the weather as I left a few fronds on the tree. They are also not easily seen from above in case those pesky blue jays decide to go foraging.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

I don't know how I missed all the replies to the thread I started! I guess the replies came during days I wasn't online much and I missed out! I will remember about the Sago toxicity. I watch my pups like a hawk when they are outside anyway as they are always trying to eat something they are not supposed to! Speaking of hawks -- that is another danger, along with the many snakes, fire ants, spiders, cow killer ants (actually the wasp family), our pool, etc.... you can see why I am right next to them when they are out and about. I got the Sago Palm as a present from the realtor 20 years ago when we moved into this house. It was just a little thing but has grown to be a huge plant with several thick trunks along with many babies! I will be especially vigilant but none of them have ever bothered it in all of the years we have had it, Here is the warning:
"Cycad Sago Palm is extremely poisonous to animals (this includes humans) if ingested. Pets are at particular risk since they seem to find the plant very palatable.[2] Clinical symptoms of ingestion will develop within 12 hours and may include vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, seizures, liver failure, or hepatotoxicity characterized by icterus, cirrhosis, and ascites. The pet may appear bruised, have nose bleeds (epistaxis), melena (blood in the stool), hematochezia (bloody straining), and hemarthrosis (blood in the joints).[3] The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center estimates a fatality rate of 50 to 75 percent when ingestion of the Sago Palm is involved. The incidence of Sago Palm ingestion by pets has risen by over 200% in the last five years.[4] If any quantity of the plant is ingested, a poison control center or doctor should be contacted immediately. Effects of ingestion can include permanent internal damage and death."

Reading that will make me worry more but also more watchful when they are near the palm. I also have several Pindo Palms but I am not seeing anything about them being toxic. Still -- I never let the pups chew on any of the plants, except plain grass.

Thanks for all of the anecdotes about the mocking birds. I find them so facinating. Mine sure sound like the pups! They have that bark down pat!

On a sad note, the eggs seem to be abandoned. I have not heard my barking mocking bird anymore and have not seen anyone sitting on the eggs. I will keep watching. They have shelter from the weather as I left a few fronds on the tree. They are also not easily seen from above in case those pesky blue jays decide to go foraging.

I have a sago palm upstairs in my bedroom a miniature version and mine have never bothered with it

[Lisa and Pic]

Sorry the nest got abandoned, but understand how you have to cut things back.

I hang ferns on our front porch every spring and just about every year a bird makes a nest in one of them. Fun to watch, but probably going to lose that fern for lack of being able to water right now. Oh well

I did get very concerned when you wrote Sago Palm - glad you are keeping a huge eye on your pups. Very scary.