ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 21 



c Ihe Mockingbird as a Northern Visitor 



An unusual result of the open winter of 1921-22 has been 

 the appearance of one or more Mockingbirds in the Chicago re- 

 gion. At intervals during twenty years or more of bird study 

 this aristocrat from farther south has favored us with fleet- 

 ing visits. About twenty-five years ago a "Mocker" spent a 

 week in what is now known as Cicero, then called Morton Park, 

 where morning and evening at the top of a tall flag pole in the 

 grounds of the late Portus B. Weare at the corner of 52nd Ave- 

 nue and 25th Street, he sang with true Southern hospitality. 

 The Mockingbird was a source of much curiosity to the English 

 Sparrows, but they did not seem to worry it for when they be- 

 came too familiar a sudden charge from the Mocker would put 

 them to flight. 



Another visit of a Mockingbird during a spring migration 

 was noted about 10 years later; at this time, however, it was 

 not heard singing. At rare intervals since it has been authen- 

 tically reported, last spring by Professor Eifrig at River For- 

 est, and this winter Mrs. U. F. Cleveland of Downers Grove re- 

 ported a Mockingbird as a regular visitor at a feeding shelf. 

 Mrs. Cleveland first noticed the stranger about the middle of 

 November, feeding on asparagus berries. She promptly moved 

 the branch of berries to her feeding shelf, where the Mocking- 

 bird soon found them and she was then able to observe the 

 bird closely. Later, friends who were familiar with "his high- 

 ness," identified it for her. 



After getting a taste of suet and later of peanut butter 

 he — or she — seldom touched the berries- True to the Mocking- 

 bird's reputation it has driven all other birds from the shelf 

 while feeding, the smaller birds not coming back, but a pair of 

 Bluejays have refused to be intimidated and simply dodge him 

 and keep on feeding. Mrs. Cleveland reports the bird coming 

 regularly for meals during November, December, January and 

 February. She obtained a good photograph of the bird feeding. 



On February 27th another report was made of a Mockingbird 

 in Rosehill Cemetery, by Mrs. Frederick Smith of 5902 Magnolia 

 Avenue. Mrs. Smith had gone to the cemetery to find Redpolls 

 and a Horned Lark that had been reported as being there. Be r 

 ing from Kentucky her delight at finding a Mockingbird and a 

 pair of Cardinals can easily be understood. It is quite possible 

 that the Mockingbirds have been seen by other observers and 

 have not been reported. All such "high spots" in bird finds 

 will be gladly reported if sent to the Bulletin Editor. — O.M.S. 



