when the mockingbirds were still

This is a reference to the cold February morning when everything was silent, empty and deserted in Maycomb. The courthouse had this feeling while they were waiting for the jury to return.

The mockingbirds in this story are Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell and Boo Radley. Mockingbirds are small, innocent creatures; much like the three in the book. Tom Robinson was an innocent Negro, Mayella was the towns outcast, and so was Boo Radley. Each of them are innocent people who are made to feel ‘small’ by the town from the way they are treated.