Over the last two weeks, an obnoxious mockingbird has attacked and disbursed all the usual comers to my bird feeders. I’m concerned about the well-being of birds accustomed to visiting my feeders that have left due to the harassment from this bird. My question is this: I’m confident that I can approach and net this bird fairly easily and without injury to it since it shows no fear. But can I live-trap it and relocate it legally? What are my options?

Northern mockingbirds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Despite the title of Harper Lee’s classic book, you may not “kill a mockingbird,” nor may you trap one for relocation. You may employ scare tactics such as erecting scarecrows, installing small windmills or hanging pie pans.

Perhaps the most productive solution would be to stop feeding the resident birds for a few days. Since mockingbirds are migratory, they will stay around only as long as there is a steady food supply. The sooner you take away the food, the sooner they will move on. When your mockingbird is gone, return to feeding as before. The resident birds will still be there.

What are the rules with respect to the DNR’s Free Fishing Weekend? Does “free” apply only to state properties?

No, any Indiana resident may fish all public waters without a fishing license during Free Fishing Weekend, which is June 9-10. Fishing licenses are never required to fish private waters any time, although anglers should always obtain permission before going on private property. All other fishing regulations are in effect on Free Fishing Weekend.

To help kids and adults celebrate Free Fishing Weekend, recreation areas across Indiana are planning fishing derbies, casting clinics, fish-printing demonstrations, and fish-cleaning and cooking classes. Check www.dnr.IN.gov/fishfree for a listing of properties and events.

I noticed some changes in fish size limits in specific areas while looking through the 2007 Recreation and Fishing Guide. Why did the DNR make these changes and what effect are they supposed to have?

Fish size limits can serve several different purposes. Often, size limits are used to reduce fish of a certain size that are overpopulating their habitat. Sometimes size limits are used to protect the most efficient spawners of a certain species.

For instance, smallmouth bass are able to successfully spawn when they reach 12-15 inches. The new 12- to 15-inch slot size limit on Blue River protects these spawners by preventing anglers from keeping smallmouths in that range while allowing them to harvest the overabundant smaller fish.

Some size limits are used to create a trophy fishery. If the habitat is capable of producing large fish, those fish are protected until they reach trophy size.

Not all rivers, lakes and streams are created equal. They vary in their capabilities to produce and sustain a productive fishery. As a result, we manage some fisheries on a case-by-case basis.

Limits such as these help protect some of Indiana’s best and most sensitive fisheries. Indiana has more quality fishing opportunities than many folks realize. Adherence to these conservation-minded regulations will only improve our resource.