Operation Deny Squirrels
This summer’s gonna be an interesting one, I can already tell. Bunky has some kinda federal judge clerkship thing that she’ll be doing this summer, so I’m gonna have a whole lotta time to do things like play FFXI, run and play basketball, and clean the fish tanks. The way I figure it, the whole experience will be like I’m retired, except I’ll still be working. One of the major plans I have, however, is to expand the buffet outside the cottage, while denying squirrel entrance. They eat all the food and rip up the wood on the bird feeder, and quite frankly I’m tired of it.
I have several things in mind. The first is a clear plastic baffle for the top of the main safflower feeder. The feeder already hangs pretty high above the ground (8 feet perhaps?) and I’ve moved it about 7 feet away from the trunk already. This means that the main way squirrels get to the feeder is by walking along the branch the feeder is hanging off, and dropping down. I am hopeful that this baffle will work, but I have to find one big enough. The other thing I want to add to the trees is a fruit feeder of some kind. My goal is to attract some orioles, and I’m not sure what the best way to do that is. I’m thinking that a boxed cage of some sort with orange halves might be good, since the squirrels can’t run away with the whole orange slice then, and the birds can peck at the fruit through the gaps. I’d love to try to build these contractions, but I don’t even have a power drill.
I’ve heard that studies have shown that hot pepper extract will deter squirrels without stopping birds. Apparently, however, it imparts a spicy taste to the birds. I’m not sure I want to know how the researchers found this out…
Today was one of the most beautiful days I’ve seen since coming to Virginia. The sky is perfectly clear, the sun is full and bright, and the temperature is crisp without being cold. It complements the blooming flowers and newly clothed trees very nicely.
Old Blogger | Kabitzin 4/28/2004
