We've got one that whoo whoo's in response to movement - a plastic owl I mean. And now that I've said we've got one - I can't remember the last time I saw it... It was in the hallway?! We've still got the hallway.
How weird...
I don't think we have mocking birds in the UK. Blackbirds here are very good mimics. There was one that - whenever I walked the dogs in its territory - would duplicate perfectly, the sound of someone whistling for their dog - which would get them so confused, poor things :) I do miss them a lot. Hmmm, that's just reminded me of another weird thing - when I walked into the kitchen a little while ago, I picked up the really strong scent of wet dog. We haven't had a wet or dry dog in the house for a long time. Most strange. The smell then just, disappeared. Spookily odd.
We've had a soaking wet day ALL day today, which completely cramped my plotting and planning for a project I started on Saturday in the garden. It's not a brilliant project, but it needs to be an absolutely secure one once it's done.
@your latest video release: That is one very determined squirrel! :)
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An extremely shy squirrel (so no photo opportunity yet) and I think a really quite young one and of the very-much-a-nursing-mum-variety appears to have built a dray for her not-long-ago-born-but-now-exploring-babies that is literally just hanging from some long-dead ivy on one of my walls. Do I think that's a good place to hang-out-in through what might be a cold and blustery autumn-winter-and-into-spring period? No. I don't. Particularly looking at the sheer energy of her three little darlings racing and clambering about the place like hooligan-fluff-balls. The woodpigeon that got used as a leaping-pad looked so bewildered, poor thing. Okay they often look bewildered, but still...
That's not why I'm here though. Why I'm here is because the little rascals have worked out how to completely dismantle one of the birdfeeders for the smaller birds. I was putting it back together again before refilling it but today, by accident or design, they've hidden two very important components so I can't
*foul-mouthed blink*
What I did notice during their early ventures in the garden, was that the first few times they buried a tasty titbit for later excavation, they were marking the spot with empty snail shells. Which I thought was really quite clever. I don't think they're doing that anymore or I'd be tempted to search under every snail for the missing bird feeder bits.
Please wait here. Further instructions could pile up at any time. Thank you.
An extremely shy squirrel (so no photo opportunity yet) and I think a really quite young one and of the very-much-a-nursing-mum-variety appears to have built a dray for her not-long-ago-born-but-now-exploring-babies that is literally just hanging from some long-dead ivy on one of my walls. Do I think that's a good place to hang-out-in through what might be a cold and blustery autumn-winter-and-into-spring period? No. I don't. Particularly looking at the sheer energy of her three little darlings racing and clambering about the place like hooligan-fluff-balls. The woodpigeon that got used as a leaping-pad looked so bewildered, poor thing. Okay they often look bewildered, but still...
Quote:
That's not why I'm here though. Why I'm here is because the little rascals have worked out how to completely dismantle one of the birdfeeders for the smaller birds. I was putting it back together again before refilling it but today, by accident or design, they've hidden two very important components so I can't
*foul-mouthed blink*
of all of natures little critters these are the ones that try my patience the most. Quite possibly because time is on their side!!!!
Quote:
What I did notice during their early ventures in the garden, was that the first few times they buried a tasty titbit for later excavation, they were marking the spot with empty snail shells. Which I thought was really quite clever. I don't think they're doing that anymore or I'd be tempted to search under every snail for the missing bird feeder bits.
of all of natures little critters these are the ones that try my patience the most. Quite possibly because time is on their side!!!!
I've noticed that. They never seem too busy with other stuff somehow. Not like we get anyway.
Our cats like to watch them from the lounge window.
Occasionally... one of them will be inspired to do a deranged streak through the house, stop suddenly to stare crazily at the space in front of them, then streak off at another angle, which seems to manage to slightly annoy one somewhere nearby the route taken, and scare the wits out of another, who is then the one that more often that not gets clobbered* for the original disturbance.
*not by me. Usually by Nutmeg (unless it's in the kitchen, in which case it's likely to be Diego, in which case Mittens clobbers absolutely everybody)
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Anniet, just noticed that you popped in. Nice to "see you" again. By leaving the feeder empty it seems to discourage visitation. Damn. I recently had shoulder surgery for a screwed up rotator which incurred back in September. I have lost feeling in the left hand's little finger. It makes typing difficult because I can't find the "a" key. Hopefully this too shall pass. All the best,
I remember you hurting it :/ I do hope your little finger will join in again with the rest of your hand soon, robl because it's disconcerting enough when a bit you happen to need for something turns numb just for a bit, let alone a bit staying like it.
I expect you've tried stamping on it... like when a foot turns all nonsensical for instance... and it didn't help...? It doesn't the end of my nose either...
All the best to you too, definitely! And take care too :)
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I just stumbled across this topic and thought I would share my success story of out witting the local squirrels here in the South suburbs of Fort Worth TX.
Oh, I see Annie had quoted part of a post of mine from the SETI forum here in messgae# 166507 >> https://einsteinathome.org/goto/comment/166507
When I moved to my current location some years ago I put up a Shepard's double hook. It has 2 bird seed feeders on it staring in early February; Switch to 1 seed and 1 humming bird feeder around early to mid May that stay up until mid to late October when I have just one seed feeder until early Feb again.
Two or three squirrels were always getting into my seed feeders usually early mornings or just around sunset for days on end. Tried greasing the center pole of the hook but the critters were still getting into the feeders. Then my dad came over one day and said he had an idea he had seen used elsewhere...
Cut open a slit length-wise (using a sharp utility knife and a small saw for the neck) from top to about 1/2 way into the bottom of enough empty 2-liter soda bottles to place/stack on top of each other over the center post from the ground up to the top of hook. Leave the neck and bottoms on the bottles.
So I did that and it worked! The first few times the squirrels tried to climb the bottles they fell down backwards.
Then a few days later they tried running and jumping up to get further up and again fell down!
Then after about 2 weeks time had passed of trying "every which way but loose" (reminds me of a movie with that tile https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077523/ ), they just came into the yard or sat on our fence looking at the "contraptions" like they were analyzing a possible way to get to the feeders and finally just gave up trying after another few days had passed.
The squirrels still periodically come around and do a "quick check" to see if anything has changed with the bottle setup and promptly leave in disgust.
The bottles are too fat and too tall for them to climb on or around and are loose enough on the center post so they move/spin when they try to grab onto them.
I just stumbled across this topic and thought I would share my success story of out witting the local squirrels here in the South suburbs of Fort Worth TX.
Oh, I see Annie had quoted part of a post of mine from the SETI forum here in messgae# 166507 >> https://einsteinathome.org/goto/comment/166507
When I moved to my current location some years ago I put up a Shepard's double hook. It has 2 bird seed feeders on it staring in early February; Switch to 1 seed and 1 humming bird feeder around early to mid May that stay up until mid to late October when I have just one seed feeder until early Feb again.
Two or three squirrels were always getting into my seed feeders usually early mornings or just around sunset for days on end. Tried greasing the center pole of the hook but the critters were still getting into the feeders. Then my dad came over one day and said he had an idea he had seen used elsewhere...
Cut open a slit length-wise (using a sharp utility knife and a small saw for the neck) from top to about 1/2 way into the bottom of enough empty 2-liter soda bottles to place/stack on top of each other over the center post from the ground up to the top of hook. Leave the neck and bottoms on the bottles.
So I did that and it worked! The first few times the squirrels tried to climb the bottles they fell down backwards.
The squirrels still periodically come around and do a "quick check" to see if anything has changed with the bottle setup and promptly leave in disgust.
The bottles are too fat and too tall for them to climb on or around and are loose enough on the center post so they move/spin when they try to grab onto them.
So you slit the bottles just enough to slide them onto the poles? And do they stay on the pole in an upright or upside down position, or does it matter? Because that sounds pretty cool.
So you slit the bottles just enough to slide them onto the poles? And do they stay on the pole in an upright or upside down position, or does it matter? Because that sounds pretty cool.
Yes, one slit from top to bottom of the bottles. I found that if the bottles are stacked "upside down" with the pour spout at the bottom worked best to keep the squirrels from any success.
The hardest part of cutting the bottles was the thick and hard plastic of the pour spout (top), I found using a hack saw blade worked best to cut through it.
We've got one that whoo
)
We've got one that whoo whoo's in response to movement - a plastic owl I mean. And now that I've said we've got one - I can't remember the last time I saw it... It was in the hallway?! We've still got the hallway.
How weird...
I don't think we have mocking birds in the UK. Blackbirds here are very good mimics. There was one that - whenever I walked the dogs in its territory - would duplicate perfectly, the sound of someone whistling for their dog - which would get them so confused, poor things :) I do miss them a lot. Hmmm, that's just reminded me of another weird thing - when I walked into the kitchen a little while ago, I picked up the really strong scent of wet dog. We haven't had a wet or dry dog in the house for a long time. Most strange. The smell then just, disappeared. Spookily odd.
We've had a soaking wet day ALL day today, which completely cramped my plotting and planning for a project I started on Saturday in the garden. It's not a brilliant project, but it needs to be an absolutely secure one once it's done.
@your latest video release: That is one very determined squirrel! :)
Please wait here. Further instructions could pile up at any time. Thank you.
An extremely shy squirrel (so
)
An extremely shy squirrel (so no photo opportunity yet) and I think a really quite young one and of the very-much-a-nursing-mum-variety appears to have built a dray for her not-long-ago-born-but-now-exploring-babies that is literally just hanging from some long-dead ivy on one of my walls. Do I think that's a good place to hang-out-in through what might be a cold and blustery autumn-winter-and-into-spring period? No. I don't. Particularly looking at the sheer energy of her three little darlings racing and clambering about the place like hooligan-fluff-balls. The woodpigeon that got used as a leaping-pad looked so bewildered, poor thing. Okay they often look bewildered, but still...
That's not why I'm here though. Why I'm here is because the little rascals have worked out how to completely dismantle one of the birdfeeders for the smaller birds. I was putting it back together again before refilling it but today, by accident or design, they've hidden two very important components so I can't
*foul-mouthed blink*
What I did notice during their early ventures in the garden, was that the first few times they buried a tasty titbit for later excavation, they were marking the spot with empty snail shells. Which I thought was really quite clever. I don't think they're doing that anymore or I'd be tempted to search under every snail for the missing bird feeder bits.
Please wait here. Further instructions could pile up at any time. Thank you.
anniet wrote:An extremely shy
)
of all of natures little critters these are the ones that try my patience the most. Quite possibly because time is on their side!!!!
robl wrote:of all of natures
)
I've noticed that. They never seem too busy with other stuff somehow. Not like we get anyway.
Our cats like to watch them from the lounge window.
Occasionally... one of them will be inspired to do a deranged streak through the house, stop suddenly to stare crazily at the space in front of them, then streak off at another angle, which seems to manage to slightly annoy one somewhere nearby the route taken, and scare the wits out of another, who is then the one that more often that not gets clobbered* for the original disturbance.
*not by me. Usually by Nutmeg (unless it's in the kitchen, in which case it's likely to be Diego, in which case Mittens clobbers absolutely everybody)
Please wait here. Further instructions could pile up at any time. Thank you.
Anniet, just noticed that you
)
Anniet, just noticed that you popped in. Nice to "see you" again. By leaving the feeder empty it seems to discourage visitation. Damn. I recently had shoulder surgery for a screwed up rotator which incurred back in September. I have lost feeling in the left hand's little finger. It makes typing difficult because I can't find the "a" key. Hopefully this too shall pass. All the best,
Robl
I remember you hurting it :/
)
I remember you hurting it :/ I do hope your little finger will join in again with the rest of your hand soon, robl because it's disconcerting enough when a bit you happen to need for something turns numb just for a bit, let alone a bit staying like it.
I expect you've tried stamping on it... like when a foot turns all nonsensical for instance... and it didn't help...? It doesn't the end of my nose either...
All the best to you too, definitely! And take care too :)
Please wait here. Further instructions could pile up at any time. Thank you.
Robl, I just stumbled across
)
Robl,
I just stumbled across this topic and thought I would share my success story of out witting the local squirrels here in the South suburbs of Fort Worth TX.
Oh, I see Annie had quoted part of a post of mine from the SETI forum here in messgae# 166507 >> https://einsteinathome.org/goto/comment/166507
When I moved to my current location some years ago I put up a Shepard's double hook. It has 2 bird seed feeders on it staring in early February; Switch to 1 seed and 1 humming bird feeder around early to mid May that stay up until mid to late October when I have just one seed feeder until early Feb again.
Two or three squirrels were always getting into my seed feeders usually early mornings or just around sunset for days on end. Tried greasing the center pole of the hook but the critters were still getting into the feeders. Then my dad came over one day and said he had an idea he had seen used elsewhere...
Cut open a slit length-wise (using a sharp utility knife and a small saw for the neck) from top to about 1/2 way into the bottom of enough empty 2-liter soda bottles to place/stack on top of each other over the center post from the ground up to the top of hook. Leave the neck and bottoms on the bottles.
So I did that and it worked! The first few times the squirrels tried to climb the bottles they fell down backwards.
Then a few days later they tried running and jumping up to get further up and again fell down!
Then after about 2 weeks time had passed of trying "every which way but loose" (reminds me of a movie with that tile https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077523/ ), they just came into the yard or sat on our fence looking at the "contraptions" like they were analyzing a possible way to get to the feeders and finally just gave up trying after another few days had passed.
The squirrels still periodically come around and do a "quick check" to see if anything has changed with the bottle setup and promptly leave in disgust.
The bottles are too fat and too tall for them to climb on or around and are loose enough on the center post so they move/spin when they try to grab onto them.
Dr Who Fan wrote:Robl, I
)
So you slit the bottles just enough to slide them onto the poles? And do they stay on the pole in an upright or upside down position, or does it matter? Because that sounds pretty cool.
So you slit the bottles just
)
Yes, one slit from top to bottom of the bottles. I found that if the bottles are stacked "upside down" with the pour spout at the bottom worked best to keep the squirrels from any success.
The hardest part of cutting the bottles was the thick and hard plastic of the pour spout (top), I found using a hack saw blade worked best to cut through it.
Interesting. I you can beat
)
Interesting. If you can beat a squirrel at his game then you have truly achieved someone worthy of praise.