A Battle Lost

There's a war going on.

It's me against the sneaky, birdseed stealing squirrels.

And so far, they have been winning.

Somehow,  those rodents manage to outwit every deterrent that I try to keep them out of the bird seed.  Even the "squirrel proof" feeders were no match for these little villains.

I've tried a homemade spray of peppermint and apple cider vinegar.  It worked for a short time, but
once the scent evaporates (or it rains) - they are right back at it.

I worry about letting the cat out onto the porch to enjoy the sun.  I know he would try to keep guard.  But I don't want him getting into a fight with a squirrel and being hurt. Or pick up fleas from one of the nasty little things.

I've heard that ultrasonic repellents can work well.  But I worry that it might also scare away the birds, which defeats the whole purpose.  I don't want to use commercial repellent sprays or powders for the same reason.  Well, that and I don't want my back porch smelling like predator pee.  EW!

Currently, I have the feeders filled with safflower seeds.  I read that the birds that usually visit my feeders - cardinals, chickadees, grosbeaks, etc - enjoy the seeds while squirrels find them bitter and unpleasant.  Unfortunately, so far the birds don't seem to be showing much interest in it either.

Do you have any tips for scaring away the squirrels, but not the birds?

Trapped!!

I saved a bird yesterday.

Granted, it was only in the predicament it was in because of me.  But still... I saved it.

As I was sitting at the table, writing in journal during my morning quiet time and drinking coffee - I heard an odd noise.  At first, I thought it was some snow or ice sliding off the roof or the gutters.  But when the noise would pause for a moment or two and then start back up - I got curious.

I peeked out the sliding door and, to my horror, I realized that a sparrow was caught inside my mason jar bird feeder!

My best guess is that because the feeder was just about empty, he must have been reaching for some remaining seed and was just small enough to slip inside one of the portals for feeding. Once inside, he couldn't figure how to maneuver himself (herself? I've just been assuming it's a male) back out. 

I quickly took down the feeder and opened it to release my poor feathered friend back into the wild.

I'm just so grateful I was here and close enough to hear it before he hurt himself.  Or worse.

Note to Self:  Keep feeder filled, or bring inside, from now on!

"A bird is three things: Feathers, flight and song"

When you're outside, do you ever just stop and take time to listen to the birds?  One of my favorite simple pleasures is sitting with the windows open, or out on my back porch in the morning and listening to the birds sing.   I believe this is one of the best simple free forms of entertainment.

I get a little thrill when I recognize the ever changing song of the mockingbird, switching back and forth between impersonations of three or four different birds after just a few notes.

It's funny to me when the cardinals sit out on the porch rail complaining that the bird feeder needs refilling.  And I find it endearing when Mr Cardinal lands on the porch, or in the pear tree, looks around for a bit - checking out the surrounds- then calls to Mrs Cardinal to join him for breakfast.

I enjoy hearing the two pairs of mourning doves softly cooing as they pick at the seeds scattered on the ground below the feeder.  They have been getting braver recently, and will actually come up onto the porch to enjoy the seeds that have fallen there as well.

But, my favorite moment is just before dawn.  That moment right before the sun rises when there seems to be one giant bird symphony.  It's like every single bird knows what's about to happen and can't contain their joy at the coming of the new day.  As if they can't help but to greet it with a song.

Do you have a favorite bird song you like to hear?

"A bird is three things: Feathers, flight and song, And feathers are the least of these."   -  Marjorie Allen Seiffert

My Feathered Friends

I love the little bird feeder that hangs outside my kitchen window.  Some mornings I could stand at the sink and watch the chickadees, sparrows and titmouses (titmice?) for hours.  I also have a pair of cardinals that regularly visit.

This year the feeder seems more popular than ever.  There's a very pretty House Finch that has come calling.  And a beautiful bright Goldfinch is now a stopping by on most days.

Tuesday morning I glanced out the window to spot this handsome fellow

A search in the Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell revealed him to be a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.  A bird listed as "uncommon".  What a wonderful surprise to have him at my little feeder!

As if that wasn't enough - when I went out to bring the dog in I heard a loud bird call from the trees across the street.  I looked over just in time to see a pileated woodpecker swoop from one tree to another and then off into the woods.

It was quite a treat to see two such beautiful birds in one day!

A Bird in the Window is Worth...

We have this silly little bird who comes each day and sits in our kitchen window sill. 

Sometimes he'll just sit there, cocking his little head as he seems to watch us.  I imagine it's sort of like a reverse zoo. 

(Bird: "Look!  Human's in their natural environment.  Ooooh... is it feeding time?  What do they eat? What's that one over there doing? Humans are so funny!)

He doesn't just sit though.  Sometimes he taps at the window.  A lot of the time.  Several times a day he's out there just tap, tap, tapping away. 

It started during the last cold spell when we had a bit of snow.  The Man of the House thought maybe he was cold and wanted in.  I tried explaining to him that he definitely didn't want to come inside as this is the territory of a grumpy cat who would love nothing more than to get his paws (and claws) on a feathered friend. 

I worry he's going to hurt his little beak.

When Your Self Esteem Goes to the Birds

We have a pair of cardinals who regularly visit our bird feeder.  I fondly refer to them as Mr C and Mrs C.   Over the last few weeks, we have started seeing them bring their fledglings around to enjoy the buffet.

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

If you have never had the experience of watching fledgling cardinals mature, let me just tell you - it is probably the least attractive part of a cardinals life cycle.  They start out a sort of grayish-brownish color with peeks of reddish feathers peeking through.  But then they start molting.  As they begin losing the dull feathers and becoming more red, they start looking a little rough.  Which taught me that even cardinals have an awkward puberty stage of life.

We have seen about 4 or 5 of these youngsters hanging around the back porch gorging themselves (because apparently teenage male cardinals also have bottomless appetites, just like their human counterparts).  All in varying stages of molt.  While being chaperoned by Mr and Mrs C.

Last week my own offspring and the grandbaby were doing g a little birdwatching out he kitchen window.  Discussing the cardinal family and which appeared to be male or female,which seemed to be a little older, etc.

And that's when I heard: "That one must be the mama, because she's really fat"  Um... say what, now??  Why is the mama bird the fat one?

And that's the day cardinal watching made me feel bad about myself.

Not really.  It was pretty funny actually.  But, it did give me pause for a moment.

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