Are Squirrels Eating Your Birdseed?

Bird watching, for many, has become an enjoyable and relaxing pastime. The various birds’ colors, sizes, behavior patterns, and individual chirps and songs add to the pleasures that encourage one to spend the time waiting and watching. The regal look of the cardinal, the territorial spirit of the blue jay, the flitter of the goldfinch, and the fascinating beauty of the hummingbird are descriptive of the appearances and distinctive personalities that can be found flying overhead for anyone to view. This ease of availability makes this an appealing hobby. The naked eye can observe a lot when it comes to bird watching, but for those wanting to take it a step further, binoculars are a must. The strength and quality of the binoculars are determined only by how much you want to spend. But the clarity and fine details visible through binoculars make it worth investing in a nice set. For those more serious and impatient in this “viewing” endeavor – bird feeders, birdhouses, and bird baths can be used to lure the birds in closer. This is where the wallet comes into play a little more and it becomes decision-making time. Certain birds call for certain feeders which hold certain foods. So at this point, you can zero in on your favorites or feed the whole gang. I chose to feed the whole gang (that being the ones that are native to my area and the particular season). And I’ll be honest with you here, this can get expensive! But………I’ve found the cost goes up directly proportional to the number of squirrels dining at my feeders. Frustrating? You bet it is!

Those little critters are fast, agile, and have eagle eyes. They can clean out a bird feeder faster than it takes you to get to the store to buy more seed (at least in my case). Squirrels have been my nemesis for many, many years now. I have bought squirrel proof feeders in the past. But due to leaving them outside during the winter months, the springs used to prevent the squirrels from eating the tasty morsels, have rusted. Determined I have tried many tactics to outwit them, only to lose in the end. However, recently I have found a baffle that seems to do the trick and I have to admit….victory is grand! If you would like more information on how to beat those greedy creatures feel free to email us anytime.    

~~Betty

howdy_n_betty@yahoo.com