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'To Kill a Mockingbird'? You Might Want to Think Twice

Written by PETA

Posted 05-19-2009

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Hunted and killed for entertainment, food, and even more absurd reasons, birds of all species don't have it easy. Well, it seems that, for one species at least, enough is enough, and they're out to level the playing field.

A new study has revealed that North American mockingbirds can distinguish one person from another and that they single out persistent intruders for retribution. Regular encroachment on their territory is met with screeching, dive-bombing, and sometimes even a swift graze across the heads of intruders.

All that just for getting a touch too close to their nests? Imagine what vengeance mockingbirds would cook up if we stuffed them into cramped, filthy cages and barns, like factory farmers do to chickens and turkeys.

Written by Shawna Flavell

Tags:

vegetarian, payback, The Exorcist, pancakes, cashews, pistachios, MLA, waffles, French toast, Jack Norris, Hampton VA, mockingbirds, dive bomb, intruder

Recent Comments

mac commented:

May 25, 2009 3:59 PM

One thing I forgot to mention these mocking birds will attack anyone and anything if they're angry to begin with. You can be friendly and they'll attack. We have a cat that's being harrangued by one right now because another one who looks like her ate some of that bird's nest. Of course the mocking bird better watch it or it might be the next meal for our cat she's a good jumper and could catch the bird if she wanted to.
J commented:

May 21, 2009 6:23 PM

Quote See this is why people don't eat mockingbirds. If chickens and turkeys showed this kind of intelligence then most people might not eat them. Bottom line most people in the civilized world eat animals that aren't intelligent. Otherwise we might be eating our own dogs and cats which are far more intelligent than chickens and turkeys. I don't see how knowing that mockingbirds are intelligence is going to persuade anyone to not eat a chicken or a turkey. "Animals may not have been put on this Earth for us to eat but we have every right to eat them just as they have every right to eat us if they have the power to be able to eat us. Some do and some don't. Super predators FTW." anonymous Sankar Namboodiri endquote Really do people only eat animals that are not smart? Well in other countries eatting dog is something that some people do. Also what i really find funny is this "See this is why people don't eat mockingbirds. If chickens and turkeys showed this kind of intelligence then most people might not eat them". Even tho you said "might" the commit alone is really funny. People will eat whatever they want The reason people don't eat mockingbirds is a simple reason really. THEY HAVE NO MEAT. i would do that in bold but i don't have the option too.
Marlo commented:

May 21, 2009 11:21 AM

I once spent time in a hospital in Vancouver b.c. for 6 weeks. The days were long and boring so I began feeding the birds after lunch and dinner from the left over food I had from the hospital trays off a balcony on the hospital ward I was on. They began to faithfully meet me at the same time everyday to eat the scraps of food I left for them. One day I had to wait in my room down the hall from the balcony to meet the doctor for a checkup so I was late. A seagull that I fed daily literally came and found my window sill and knocked on the glass with his beak... I think he was telling me I was late for his lunch! It was so funny and since then I have a huge respect for the intelligence of birds... Especially the ones people label as pests because their beauty is truly overlooked.
Bianca Santiago commented:

May 21, 2009 12:00 AM

uhmmm Brian Homann? where'd you get that crap from?
Mac commented:

May 20, 2009 10:47 PM

This was a waste of money as far as the study. Anyone who has lived in the country knows that mockingbirds naturally attack anything that attacks their young or habitat. It's called natural instinct. The money could've been used for better things such as to find ways to reduce if not eliminate the need for animal testing or to expand space in the zoo. PETA if you want to use something like this for good us it instead of bashing farmers who aren't always the way you paint them and urge Congress to spend it not on stuff people already know but to benefit animals better.
Brian Homann commented:

May 20, 2009 5:10 PM

wow how absured to kill and animal for food hello thats what God made them for God put every animal below man
Brien Comerford commented:

May 19, 2009 8:16 PM

Mocking birds are propelled by divine intervention if they inlict woes on those who threaten them.
Anonymous commented:

May 19, 2009 8:10 PM

See this is why people don't eat mockingbirds. If chickens and turkeys showed this kind of intelligence then most people might not eat them. Bottom line most people in the civilized world eat animals that aren't intelligent. Otherwise we might be eating our own dogs and cats which are far more intelligent than chickens and turkeys. I don't see how knowing that mockingbirds are intelligence is going to persuade anyone to not eat a chicken or a turkey. "Animals may not have been put on this Earth for us to eat but we have every right to eat them just as they have every right to eat us if they have the power to be able to eat us. Some do and some don't. Super predators FTW." anonymous Sankar Namboodiri
Rev. Meg Schramm commented:

May 19, 2009 6:48 PM

Like Harper Lee who wrote the book "To Kill A Mockingbird" I was always taught it was a sin to kill one. For those out there who have not read that book I highly recommend it especially for students who have to read a book for an American Literature or English class.
Ellie B. commented:

May 19, 2009 6:47 PM

Harper Lee's classic novel discourages killing them citing them as precious and beautiful. Do I smell an early conservationist? D

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