The mockingbird is known for its ability to mimic other sounds, from nature and from urban and suburban environments. It's also been known to repeat the songs of other birds, bugs, frogs and even car alarms. In fact, a single mockingbird can sing up to 200 different songs.
It became the state bird of Arkansas in 1929.
Mockingbirds are a group of New World passerine birds from the family Mimidae. They are best known for the habit of some species mimicking the songs of other birds and the sounds of insects and amphibians, often loudly and in rapid succession. There are about 17 species in two genera, although three species of mockingbird from the Galapagos Islands were formerly separated into a third genus, Nesomimus. The mockingbirds do not appear to form a monophyletic lineage, as Mimus and Melanotis are not each other's closest relatives; instead, Melanotis appears to be more closely related to the catbirds, while the closest living relatives of Mimus appear to be thrashers, such as the sage thrasher.
The only mockingbird commonly found in North America is the northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). The Greek word polyglottos means 'multiple languages'. Mockingbirds are known for singing late at night, even past midnight.
When the survey voyage of HMS Beagle visited the Galápagos Islands in September to October 1835, the naturalist Charles Darwin noticed that the mockingbirds Mimus thenca differed from island to island, and were closely allied in appearance to mockingbirds on the South American mainland. Nearly a year later when writing up his notes on the return voyage he speculated that this, together with what he had been told about Galápagos tortoises, could undermine the doctrine of stability of species. This was his first recorded expression of his doubts about species being immutable, which led to his being convinced about the transmutation of species and hence evolution.
If you want to hear a mocking bird singing, go here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o56qIAu5utc
Ok, you don’t have to be a cowboy (or cowgirl) to enjoy this flavor-packed dip that’s studded with all sorts of good stuff like bacon, corn, and lots of cheddar cheese. This is ideal for an after school treat, to put out on game night or really any night.
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (1-ounce) package ranch dressing mix
- 1 tablespoon diced pimiento, drained well
- 1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon real bacon pieces
- 2 teaspoons chopped chives
- In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, cream cheese, and ranch dressing mix; mix until smooth.
- Stir in corn, pimiento, cheddar cheese, bacon, and chives; mix well. Serve or refrigerated until ready to serve.
Test Kitchen Tip: Serve dip with pretzels, chips, or your favorite fresh veggies.
1947 – Cheryl Tiegs, American model
1951 – Mark Hamill, American actor
1952 – Christopher Reeve, American actor (d. 2004)
1961 – Heather Locklear, American actress and model
1969 – Catherine Zeta-Jones, Welsh actress
1973 – Bridgette Wilson, American actress
National Lobster Day on September 25th takes a taste of a seafood favorite.
The simplest way to enjoy Lobster is boiled then dipped in melted butter. A couple of favorite lobster recipes include Lobster Newberg and Lobster Thermidor. It is also the main ingredient in soup, bisque, lobster rolls and salads.
Large lobsters are estimated to be 50 years old.
These marine crustaceans live at the bottom of the ocean. If they avoid the lobster pot, some can live up to 100 years old. Even though we consider them a delicacy today, that wasn’t always the case. In colonial times, the lobster received very little culinary credit. In fact, the pigs and goats ate more lobster than the well-to-do.
While lobsters arrive at our tables bright red, they don’t start out that way. In the ocean, they come in many colors. Some are yellow, green or even blue.
Now that lobsters rank higher on the menu, consider these nutrition facts.
- Lobsters contain no carbohydrates and 27.55 grams of protein per 1 cup serving.
- In that same 1 cup serving, there’s 129 calories and 1.25 grams of fat.
- Eating lobster offers an excellent source of selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and calcium.
We’ve found several delicious recipes to try. Let us know which one you like best!
Did you know there’s even a Lobster Newburg Day? Check out this recipe for Lobster Newburg.
According to the Guinness World Records, the largest lobster ever caught was in Nova Scotia, Canada, weighing 44.4 lbs.
NATIONAL LOBSTER DAY HISTORY
In 2014, Senators Angus King and Susan Collins of Maine drafted a joint resolution designating September 25th as National Lobster Day. The proclamation recognizes the men and women in an industry as well as the long and rich heritage, from sea to table.
National Lobster Day on September 25th takes a taste of a seafood favorite.
The simplest way to enjoy Lobster is boiled then dipped in melted butter. A couple of favorite lobster recipes include Lobster Newberg and Lobster Thermidor. It is also the main ingredient in soup, bisque, lobster rolls and salads.
Large lobsters are estimated to be 50 years old.
These marine crustaceans live at the bottom of the ocean. If they avoid the lobster pot, some can live up to 100 years old. Even though we consider them a delicacy today, that wasn’t always the case. In colonial times, the lobster received very little culinary credit. In fact, the pigs and goats ate more lobster than the well-to-do.
While lobsters arrive at our tables bright red, they don’t start out that way. In the ocean, they come in many colors. Some are yellow, green or even blue.
Now that lobsters rank higher on the menu, consider these nutrition facts.
- Lobsters contain no carbohydrates and 27.55 grams of protein per 1 cup serving.
- In that same 1 cup serving, there’s 129 calories and 1.25 grams of fat.
- Eating lobster offers an excellent source of selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and calcium.
