As I've mentioned before, Dave and I have a bird feeder in our garden. It's on a tall pole and it's supposedly squirrel-proof. I say supposedly, because as you can see, our squirrels have outwitted it.
They climb up and set the whole thing to swaying, trying to figure out how to get to the suet balls. (They're not interested in the dried mealworms.)
Squirrel ballet -- en pointe.
And finally, jackpot!
Olga sits inside and watches all this with quivering excitement.
An hour or so later...
...the starlings show up, and the whole contraption becomes a seething mass of fluttering birds. It's almost Hitchcockian.
"Feed me!"
Whew!
We get other birds, too -- lots of tits and occasionally something more interesting. I haven't seen any parrots this year, though. It all depends on which food we put out. The mealworms seem to draw primarily tits and starlings. Last year a woodpecker went for them but I haven't seen it yet, either. It's an ever-revolving cast of characters!
Squirrels are indeed the masters at conquering anti-squirrel devices. One I tried after seeing it on Jessicas' blog at rustyduck.net is the Twirl-a-Squirrel (available from Amazon UK or USA). It is pretty effective and gives the offender quite a ride before they twirl off. Olga would enjoy watching it also.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! A big city's wildlife in your garden!
ReplyDeleteFor some reasons, I so far thought those mealworms, you have mentioned earlier, were still living and creeping around. Silly me...
I love the photos you got of the baby birds begging for food! I love watching our feeders. We have an ever-evolving cast of characters, too, as well as some of the fattest squirrels you ever saw.
ReplyDeleteThose squirrel photos are hilarious. I don't think I've ever seen a more dexterous animal with such determination. Such agility and daring should be rewarded.....and it was.
ReplyDeleteWhat incredible photography! You caught everyone at the just the right second.
ReplyDeleteWe have chickadees here, robins, starlings and a pigeon couple - I think they are monogamous! And an owl, but of course, He never comes near.
I put their feed right on the railing of the deck and they will eat about 4 feet from me, locking eyes sometimes.
Somehow, the squirrels seem to be polite enough to wait until they've had their fill.
Yes, the mother and baby is particularly sweet, you don't get to see that often.
great photos. I don't think there is anything that is squirrel proof. they are very smart and clever. we buy a songbird mix so we get everything coming to our feeders who get what the squirrels leave them.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat great photos, and I love your commentary :)
ReplyDeleteGrease the feeder poles and that might keep your squirrels away.
ReplyDeleteThose squirrels are hilarious and very, very clever. Or should that be cunning?
ReplyDeleteMs Soup
Isn't it weird how you either get starlings or pigeons in your garden, but never both? Or is it just me?
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed the squirrel pics :)
ReplyDelete