Tuesday, December 17, 2019
My "Squirrel-proof" Feeder is No More!
I'm sorry to report that the squirrels have learned to extract the sunflower seed from my "squirrel-proof" feeders. For ten years these feeders had proven invincible to the squirrels, but now I get to watch squirrels at the feeder instead of birds.
The first stop when the squirrels invade the yard is often the ash stump leftover from last fall's tree trimming. This tree got totally trimmed! They seem to like to stand up and look around briefly, casing the joint so to speak.
Then it's off to the hanging feeder where they gorge themselves on sunflower seeds. I don't actually know if they get full or they get tired hanging on, but then they're off with a quick jump to the ground.
Lots of squirrel games of 'ambush your neighbour' go on. One might be peacefully eating below the feeder and another comes around the corner of the shed and makes for it. In a flurry of 8 little feet they're both off for the trees.
Unless the attacking squirrel is a dominant one and climbs back up on the feeder to eat! I know we have 4 visiting bushy tails, because I regularly see two greys and two blacks. But I can't tell them apart like they can!
Oten the visit ends with one denizen of the airy highways sitting on a branch while engaging in a patch of vigorous tail twitching. Then they go home and rest up for next time.
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What a delight it must be to watch those furry fluffy tails . I am sure the word goes round that your home is where the good stuff is!!!
ReplyDeleteThey are smart little creatures!
ReplyDeleteThere's probably not a feeder made that's truly squirrel proof. As frustrating as they are, they are fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteThey are clever that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI had one of those "squirrel proof" feeders, too. It didn't take them ten years to figure it out, though. Your pictures brought back memories. :-)
ReplyDeletehehehe, they are little rascals, aren't they?!?! my husband watched them every day, for about a year, and squirrel proofed everything. now, they can only get what the birds drop!!
ReplyDeletesquirrels - 1, FG - 0
You and I sure have our problems with the Squirrels alright. I like the little guys and even go out of my way to feed them but they sure make me mad sometimes when they smash up the feeders. I don't know how many times in frustration I took the bird feeders down and said 'that's it, no more!! The next day after I cooled down I would be out putting the bird feeders back up again. Sometimes I win and most times they win. Looks like you got the same kind of odds.
ReplyDeleteI think squirrel-proof is a misnomer. Squirrels have nothing better to do than cogitate about your feeder and engineer a hack.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbour just says he has birds that come occasionally to his squirrel-feeders, which makes him feel better about his bushy-tailed guests.
ReplyDeleteThey breed too prolifically for me and I have managed to just keep them down on the ground below our feeders.
ReplyDeleteSquirrel Olympics! They are determined little beasts, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteThey're clever little ones!
ReplyDeleteEinstein is a dullard compared to squirrels. I too have feeders that are allegedly squirrel proof - and they are for a while, until the little geniuses figure out a way to defeat them! All the best for the holidays!
ReplyDelete