Beth Girdler

Her previous columns are archived HERE.

BETH GIRDLER

Grey squirrel marauders

Boy oh boy, just when I was feeling smug about my set up, I was foiled again.

Recently, I looked out the back window at my neighbour's feeder. There were three fluffy grey squirrels busily chowing down and all I could think was, "better hers than mine!"Recently, I looked out the back window at my neighbour's feeder. There were three fluffy grey squirrels busily chowing down and all I could think was, "better hers than mine!"

I didn't mean this in any vindictive way, its just that I know she likes watching squirrels as well as birds at her feeder whereas I happen to prefer the birds on my feeder and squirrels on the ground beneath.

I enjoy watching the variety of birds that arrive chez nous and am especially fond of the pair of cardinals that have been round every day this winter. Therefore, it was with great disappointment that I opened my curtains the other morning to see is a grey furry backside staring me in the face instead of a feathered one. Cheeky devils.

Please don't misunderstand me, I do like them. The grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, was originally a species associated with the virgin hardwood forests of the east. This mammal adapted well to human settlement and is now found in many eastern cities.

Many of you have probably noticed that squirrels come in two colours. In our area they wear grey coats, but there is also a black-coated form.

One of the first orphaned animals I ever raised was a tiny black squirrel that had fallen out of its nest and down the neighbour's chimney. We named him Oscar and he quickly became a member of our already large family. So you see, I do have a soft spot for these rodents, as long as the great greedy louts stay off the feeder.

Like many bird enthusiasts, I have tried all manner of deterrents -- baffles, greased poles, my dog.

Last winter I thought I had struck the right combination. But much to my consternation and amazement, when the squirrels found they could not make it up the pole to the platform they climbed a cedar tree and made the most spectacular, death-defying leaps from the outermost branches to the top of the pole. At first, some of them didn't make it. I felt like we were watching the animal version of "Funniest home videos," complete with comments from my son of "Oh, that's gotta hurt!"

Sounds like cruelty to animals, but keep in mind that I always put some feed on the ground for both birds -- and squirrels. The pole was, of course, frozen into the ground so come spring I moved the whole thing as far away from the trees as possible and this, along with my squirrel-feeding neighbour, seemed to do the trick....until now.

We've had so much snow of late that the marauders simply jump past the baffle onto the platform. Here we go again. I think I am going to go with the "if you can't beat em, join em" camp and set up my own squirrel feeding site.

I know they like corn, and maybe they will even enjoy the crusts my son leaves in his lunchbox. Do you think they will get the message? This cheap corn is for you, and those expensive peanuts are for the blue jays? Hmmm. I'll let you know. By the way, Quebecers in Ayer's Cliff. Has anyone else seen the bald eagle flying overhead? I have seen it twice, flying right over my house at 7:30 one morning last week. This is the third sighting I have had this winter. If anyone knows where it roosts, please let me know. 819-838-4366.a

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