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The Texas Side Of Things

published: May 14th 2010
by: Jim Banner

If I were to ask you to name the state flower of Texas, most of you without hesitation would be able to tell me it’s the bluebonnet.   For you that didn’t know the correct answer, well I’m assuming you haven’t lived in Texas for very long!  But if I were to ask you what is the official bird of Texas would you get it right?  Once again I’m going to guess that most of you Native Texans know it’s the mockingbird… but have you ever wondered why?
    I’ve often wondered who in their right minds would have selected the mockingbird to represent the bird species for our great state.  Surely there are better choices…maybe the scissortail or even the chaparral!  To me mockingbirds are noisy, obnoxious and I’ve despised them most all of my life.  For you see ever since I was a youngster, I’ve enjoyed deer hunting and if you’ve ever spent any time at all hunting, you’ll understand my frustration with this bird.   I’ve spent many a day in the pasture during the autumn either sitting in a tree stand or sneaking around as quiet as possible trying to stalk an unsuspecting buck.  But it never seemed to fail that while I was hunting, a mockingbird would find me and sound the alert that I was there.
    But recently an incident between me and a mother mockingbird challenged me to learn more about our state bird and what I discovered was kind of interesting and good therapy for my hatred.  I discovered in an article, that in 1927 a group called the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs requested that the Texas Legislature officially adopt the mockingbird as the state bird of Texas.  I have to admit, my first I thoughts about this wo-men’s group was not very favorable.   I immediately assumed they were probably a band of city gals that probably belonged also to the local flower club!  But as I continued to read, I soon discovered some interesting facts about this unique bird and the reasoning behind their decision.
    The song of the mockingbird is in fact a medley of calls from many wild birds, each repeated several times.  It will imitate other species’ songs and calls, squeaky gates, pianos, sirens or even barking dogs just to name a few.  Also the mockingbird can be found in an urban or rural setting and in all regions of the state. Mockingbird pairs often form long-term bonds and most of the time only the single males will sing at night.  They develop sexual maturity at one year of age and usually nest twice a year but sometimes, when the conditions are right, they can actually have three hatchings.
    The following statement was submitted to the legislature by the Texas Federation of Women’s Club which helped explain their reasoning for selecting this bird:
    WHEREAS, Ornithol-ogists, musicians, educators and Texans in all walks of life unite in proclaiming the mockingbird the most appropriate species for the state bird of Texas, as it is found in all parts of the state, in winter and in summer, in the city and in the country, on the prairie and in the woods and hills, and is a singer of distinctive type, a fighter for the protection of his home, falling, if need be, in its defense, like any true Texan!
    Hopefully you noticed I underlined the last portion of this sentence to make a point…this past week I spent a couple of days at the ranch catching up on some necessary work.  One morning I woke up, poured myself a cup of coffee and was enjoying the cool morning in the country. I had opened the windows of the house the night before and I could hear birds outside making all kinds of noise.  I looked outside to see a squirrel running as fast as it could down a pipe fence with a mockingbird fluttering above it, pecking it in the head as it tried to escape.  I laughed at the sight and really didn’t feel any sorrow for the squirrel since I’m always having words with that critter…especially when he sits in the pecan trees and barks at me.  About 15 minutes later I went outside to clean  off the porch when I noticed a baby bird lying there but decided to leave it alone and let mother nature take its course.  I assumed it was learning how to fly and as soon as its wings were strong enough it would be ready to go.  Later I came back to the same spot to check on the baby bird only to find out it was still there.  So I decided to carry it to a bird bath located under a pecan tree and build it a bigger and better nest.  I lined the bird bath with some grass and next I went to pick up the young chick and place it in its new home.  I had to have been within maybe 10 yards of the new nest when the little bird let out a distress call that I didn’t think was very loud but the next thing I know his mama, which happened to be a mockingbird, was flogging me ferociously on top of my hat.  At the time I was wishing I was being attacked by a bobcat instead of this mama bird.  Not knowing exactly what to do I dropped the bird and started running in the same direction that the squirrel had earlier that morning and after about a 50 yard sprint… the mama bird finally gave up. That’s when I heard that stupid squirrel in a nearby pecan tree barking at me as if he were making fun of me…he and I just don’t get along!
    So today I have a totally different attitude about the mockingbird and what it stands for in our Texas history…it will defend itself, family and its territory when necessary and in most cases it will win.  I’m proud of our state bird and what it stands for, but between you and me, I still hate that squirrel!!!
UNTIL NEXT TIME, THINK TEXAS!!!