Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Squirrels stump my setup


I'll be doing a fall season update next time. But now I'll do a squirrel update.
               My super duper line-and-baffle squirrel-proof setup ... is not squirrel proof. That's right; it has been conquered more than once, and by two squirrels. It took them several tries (squirrels are a persistent bunch), but when they figured it out, they hit on about one every three tries.
               The two squirrels who have been successful, take different approaches. One tip toes the line and with two jumps, makes the mark. The other chooses to spring from the tree, grab the PCV pipe and make one more jump to the goal. His jump from the tree is about six feet - a backyard record.
               Why they don't just figure that the goal is not worth the effort, I don't know. I feed them sunflower seeds and peanuts every day at the three stands in my yard. But they don't appear to want to give up until they have exhausted the supply everywhere. 
               I have added a baffle to the line and will continue to refigure the plan until I have stumped them all.
               We shall see.

Here are the birds I saw today:

(AM, cloudy, 77 degrees, 30 minutes)

Northern Cardinal
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown Thrasher
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Carolina Wren
Tufted Titmouse
House Finch
American Goldfinch

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