 |
| The feeders are just an easy climb up the branch and a little jump for the squirrels now. |
Aunt Martha and Uncle Billy have a very nice feeder set up for the birds in their yard. They have things for big birds, little birds, seed eaters, and insect eaters. The have lower perches and higher perches and during the summer they grow flowers under the feeders that attract birds. The birds appreciate their efforts as seen by the many of them that frequent there each day. In fact when I visit Aunt Martha, I often have a hard time concentrating on the business at hand because I am distracted by watching all of the birds. If we have something important to discuss, she makes me sit with my back to the feeder.
So when I found out Uncle Billy had drawn my name for Christmas, I asked for a branch to be installed close to my feeder like they have at theirs. I hoped that would be the first of several additions I had planned to my set up. And on Christmas Eve, it magically appeared.
As I had hoped, the birds flocked to it. Yeah! However, what I had forgotten to calculate into the equation was that we had just added a convenient way for the squirrels to get to the feeder. How soon I had forgotten that we had worked so hard on a setup to keep the squirrels out of the bird feeder. This included placing the feeder at a distance far enough from the trees so the squirrels couldn't easily jump from one of them onto the it.
I'm not sure what to do now. The birds are enjoying the new branch, but not as much as the squirrels are. And if truth be told, the squirrels are pretty fun to watch. However, the birds don't come around so much when they're there. And it's pretty expensive to feed a squirrel as much suet as it wants to eat.
So for now, as we consider the next move, we're enjoying both the squirrels and the birds, And we're looking for sales on bird food. :)
Here are a few pictures of the squirrels with their new-found treat.
Oh, those clever squirrels! Uncle Billy must be a great guy to do that for you. It would be a difficult problem to solve!
ReplyDeleteSquirrels are very clever. There are some amazing videos out there of some things they have done. Uncle Billy is a great guy. He's the one that shares his produce in the summer.
DeleteHa! That squirrel is quite the cutie! I especially like the shot with the full belly exposed. I'm struck by the difference in the color of your squirrels to ours. Ours are much more brown/blonde rather than gray. Interesting...
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, as you know, I'm a total softie, so I just put out a nice mixture for the squirrels and birds each day. I haven't tried suet yet... and I don't have an actual feeder. I just sprinkle a mixture of birdseed, sunflower seeds, peanuts, corn, & barley out on the deck and back porch and let them have at it. They also get apple cores, leftover popcorn, and any bread or toast that got overdone in the toaster or the heels of the kind that CatMan likes (he won't eat the heels and I'm allergic.) They also LOVE pumpkin or squash seeds when available.
I think I saw a video once of some people who had greased the pole of their bird feeder in order to keep the squirrels from getting up there. Sounds like it would take daily maintenance to make it work, but it seemed to be effective! :-)
We tried the greased pole thing and it didn't work. We also had a slinky on the pole and that didn't work.
DeleteThe squirrels are not lacking for food. First they have plenty of acorns and walnuts and berries around. Plus we frequently put out food just like you mentioned that they can have. We put some of it in front of the windows where the cats sit, so they can get a good show. However, it would be nice if the squirrels would leave the official bird feeders alone.
BTW, the squirrels we have in our yard are officially called eastern gray squirrels. That my be why you don't see them.
I dont have bird feeders for 2 reasons. The cat next door thinks it is his personal bait station and of course squirrels. I know they are supposed to be cute and all but when I look at them I only see rats with furry tails.
ReplyDeleteWell, they are in the rodent family. When they're wet and their tails aren't so fluffy, that is very evident.
DeleteOkay I am another softy, I love watching squirrels but yes the do cost a lot to feed. We found a pvc pipe in the yard we stuck in the ground to hang the bird feeder from worked like a charm they can't climb the plastic although yours can probably still get to your feeders because of the branch which I love btw.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see how it goes. Maybe because we haven't had any snow yet, there seems to be plenty to go around. But they have been known to eat an entire suet cake in one day.
DeleteNot many squirrels around here, and not so many birds either, since we got the cats. We're due our first cold snap this winter next week, so you've reminded me to top up my bird feeder.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I read, you have red squirrels in your area. Is that what you see?
Delete