Reality Check by Dave Whamond for November 08, 2022

Aw, nuts!

Before my condo banned birdfeeders, I used to watch the squirrels eating the birdseed. Most squirrels would sort through the seeds, picking out and eating only the occasional sunflower seed. But I admired the one squirrel who learned to shove his snout into the seeds and just chew and chew and chew non-stop. If squirrels had elections and I were a squirrel, I’d vote for him.

Some (squirrelly?) people seem to think that whatever is in the fridge is fair game for themselves.

Birdfeeder, shmirdfeeder!

Squirrels will find a way!

I use that ‘Hot’ Bird Seed for my ground feeders. Squirrels won’t touch it. They get the peanuts. All get fed at my house.

Everyday I refill the bird feeders and try to discourage the squirrels. It’s a losing battle.

I have different feed in 3 places. I don’t want squirrels in the most expensive seed. My dog knows which one that is and she gets to run out the door when squirrels show up. Makes her day.

Gray Squirrel Alert … protect your Japanese maples …!!!

The cat has been trying to grow a nice crop of birds to eat…

This boy finally foiled squirrels.

But raccoons and possums were an additional challenge. Sitting out at 11 PM in the pitch black once, I heard something big atop my ultra-high up feeder, shook the tar out of the pole, then heard and felt a large thud on the ground. Whatever it was crawled under my unfinished deck extension and died. So much for using the deck for the rest of the summer, till the flies babies were done with it. But the next spring after the frozen tundra thawed, I wasted no time screening it closed.

Also, the birds enjoyed the birdbath all winter, courtesy of my water heater. But we finally quit when the Sharp Shinned and Cooper’s hawks showed up and began dining on our babies.

Raw peanuts for the squirrels and blue jays and crows, bird seed for the rest – including the pigeons.

And girls just wanna have lunch…