Try an umbrella...maybe you can stick it in the ground over you while you work. The good news is, this defensive, overly protective behavior won't go on forever. As soon as the young ones fledge, they will calm down again for awhile.

Good luck!

Marcia

i was just going to put up a post about a bird that has been following me around.. even if i sit on my patio it perches like a foot away from me.. i was wondering what was going on.. now i know!

I spent a lot of time at the hospital... go outside daily and stand under different trees, watch the comings and going ons.

There was a mocking bird there that would suddenly bounce off my shoulder. I'd go away and come back couple months later.. same routine.

Mostly it would try to chase me off, no-luck - I stand my ground. Occasionally it would hit on a woman in high heels... funny watching them try to run on a red brick roadway to get away.

I guess my mockers are used to me, they even let me get close to photograph their fledgelings in the nests, and when they are on the ground learning to fly.