A protective songbird has people ducking for cover at the courtyard of a Bangor business.
Bangor Savings Bank put signs outside its building on Hamlin Way to warn employees and visitors of the bird, which made a nest in a tree at a nearby entrance. This is the first year bank employees reported seeing the bird, said Jaclyn Fish, Bangor Savings’ marketing and community relations director.
The bird is believed to be a northern mockingbird that’s protecting a nearby nest, according to Bob Duchesne, an outdoors contributor for the Bangor Daily News who pens a weekly bird column.
Northern mockingbirds have been known to attack animals and humans that venture too close to their nests, according to the National Audubon Society.
The bird’s behavior has become a main topic of conversation for bank employees and visitors alike. Fish didn’t know of any cases of the bird attacking employees or visitors. It has, however, flown low over the heads of some people and startled them.
The bank called Avian Haven, a Freedom-based organization that rehabilitates injured birds, after the mockingbird showed up a month or two ago to see how to best help it, Fish said.
The bank put netting around the courtyard’s trees to protect the bird’s new home.
“The birds have a home here on our campus and we’re doing our best to protect them,” Fish said. “It’s a frequent topic of conversation among our employees and we hope they continue to come back.”
