MOBIL'S OWN MOCKINGBIRD,
continued
by: Marlene Biondo

The northern mockingbird's habitat is as far north as Southern Canada to as far south as Chile and Argentina. The inclusion of the Southern Canada to New Jersey habitat is fairly recent, as prior to 1950, the mockingbird was seldom seen north of New Jersey. Mockingbirds are found, more often than not, in tropical climates. There are a total of 8 species from Cuba and Mexico. Another specific species group is native to the Galapagos Islands, where a number of 9 separate species have evolved. There are two blue mockingbird species, genus Melanotis. These distinct variations of the species are indigenous to Mexico and Central America.

The Sorocco mockingbird is found in the largest of the Revillagigedo Islands in the Pacific Ocean, southwest of the Baja, California peninsula. This mockingbird species is endangered because of the rising population of feral cats. Don't these cats know it's a sin to kill a mockingbird? After all, the mockingbird sings his melodies with resounding joy. He does well to eat grasshoppers, cutworms, and other insects that are harmful to the farmers' field. *

The Mimus polyglottos, or northern mockingbird, most commonly nest in apple, orange, magnolia or live oak trees. They build their homes in wood-edges pastures, or upon a lonely tree on the prairie. However, in recent times, mockingbirds have built their nests near the buildings of man, much like Mobil's own mockingbird. Materials used to build their nests include bulky twigs, string, rags, cotton, grass, moss, weed roots, bark, and paper. Their nests are lined with soft, comfortable materials such as plant down, fine grass, or horse hair. They build their nests within a time frame of 1 to 3 days. The female delivers 3-6 greenish-blue eggs to the nest. The egg color often varies from pastel green or blue to these colors' deeper hues, to a grey buff color. The eggs are speckled with red or brown flecks. Both male and female build their nests, feed their young and defend their nest. Maybe the male of the species isn't so bad after all.

The mockingbird feeds on insects, seeds and fruits. Both parents provide their young with a delicate diet of slugs, cut worms, grubs, and leg-less grasshoppers. Upon a perch, one can sometimes catch sight of a mockingbird swiftly dropping straight down to the ground to feed on its prey. Its long, slender beak is helpful when eating seeds and fruit, and insects, or delivering death to a bothersome snake.

The greatest documented number of mocked imitations of any one mockingbird, is said to have been 32. Another source counts up to 80 mocking imitations. Whatever the number of sounds may be, this bird's abilities are remarkable, to say the least. For instance, the mockingbird doesn't just mimic other birds in between its own original songs. It can also imitate other animals and mechanical sounds.

Wilbur, the next time you hear a hammer drop, or a spring cut loose out of no-where — and that sound is coming from somewhere on your back lot . . . count another mimic for Mobil's own mockingbird.

Personally, I find the mockingbird not so obnoxious as entertaining. In fact, I'll be looking and listening for the mockingbird wherever I travel in the South, whether at home or on the road. I'll be counting the mimic sounds of the mockingbird, to see just how many songs are in his individual repertoire (only the male mocks). Thanks again, Wilbur, for sharing your enlightening observations of the South's most famous songbird. This one's for you!

* Try reading Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize Winner, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. At a writers conference recently held at the College of Charleston, Harper Lee's name came up. Other writers were questioning why there weren't a succession of great novels by this brilliant author. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is considered a great American classic, and it is still included on reading lists and used in academic curriculum's in high schools and colleges. In a biographical entry from the Summerville, SC public library, it was mentioned that a 2nd manuscript was in the process. However, there seems to be no proof that it was ever published. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD was the only novel ever written by Harper Lee. Perhaps it was too difficult to recreate such greatness.

A coincidental tie-in to the article above is that the setting of Harper Lee's novel includes Mobile, not the gas station, but the city . . . in Alabama.