Backyard Entertainment

     It is pretty much common knowledge that I am easy to entertain.  Just this past week I have spent more time than I'd like to admit sitting out back giggling to myself or anyone nearby... OK usually to myself.  Between the dogs, birds and squirrels it has been a nature channel comedy zone.
     We love feeding birds and have quite the buffet offering for them in the backyard.  Our feeding station includes various styles of feeders so birds of all sizes can partake.  We also try to offer different seeds throughout the year.  Upon first setting up our system we put a baffle on both the top and the bottom to stop the squirrels from raiding the feeder.  We very quickly learned that the squirrels in our yard were members of the local gymnastic team and could leap and twist their bodies across amazing distances (3 feet) to out-maneuver the baffle.  In response we trimmed the trees and bushes nearby thus ending our sponsoring the local gymnastic tournament.

Sunflower after having a few visitors

The corn far away from birdfeeders

     Things were fine until this year.  I do think it is my fault because I upped the ante.  Recently I spent the weekend in Helen, Georgia and while visiting a farm-stand I bought dried sunflowers to hang for the birds AND feeder corn cobs for the squirrels.   However my generosity was short lived and the squirrels decided that they didn't want no stinking dried corn.  OH NO they wanted the sun flowers. I have since learned that squirrels not only enjoy the seeds but the entire flower head as well. One squirrel in particular was extremely determined to enjoy all that the sunflower had to offer.   I didn't really mind but just couldn't figure out how the squirrels were getting to it.  So I sat and waited for their return ~ that's right I stalked a squirrel. And I'm so glad I did.

   

     This squirrel, whom I nick-named Nadia, made my day.  She had me laughing so much I really didn't care that she was eating my sunflower.  The maneuvers she went through to eat that flower were nothing short of amazing.  I knew how smart these animals were but I never really gave much thought to their problem solving skills.  The suet feeder you see her straddling was her first obstacle.  It kept spinning around and flipping her off (which I wish I had a picture of b/c that was hilarious) every time she was about to get situated.  After about 4-5 times of this happening she took a different approach.  Now my crew says it just happened but I'm believing Nadia figured this out.  She landed on the top of the suet cage and kept walking on it, like a clown walking on a ball, until it locked in place.  Once she had that handled she began swinging to reach the flower.  It only took her a few failed attempts of trying to grab the flower before she switched gears and swung out for the hook that it was attached to.  While she's eating, bits and pieces are falling to the ground.  Within minutes birds are happy eating at the droppings which doesn't seem to bother Nadia until another squirrel starts joining in.  Nadia, it turns out, doesn't like sharing.  She first started barking at her unwanted dinner guest.  When that proved inefficient she jumped down then chased the other squirrel away.  Nadia returned within a few minutes and was happily eating away at the sunflower when with no notice the two of them crashed onto the ground.  It seems that Nadia had been eating away where the sunflower was connected to the hook ~ whoops.  Once the flower was on the ground she was not going to share it with anyone and even chased some hungry birds away.  I can only guess that she thought it would be better to take the flower home to explain what happened next.  Nadia started dragging the entire flower into the bushes, or as we call it ~ The Jungle of Elephant Ears.  I thought she'd just hide out and eat the flower in there.  Well if I didn't see it myself and have the pictures to prove it I'd never believe what she did next.

Nadia carried the sunflower up the tree.                                                                    

So yes I spent probably 30 minutes staring out of my dining room window watching this crazy squirrel and I'm proud of it.  Who needs cable TV when you have critters like this in the backyard?Have I told you we have crazy chickens? 

   
   

AHH Mother Nature ~~~NOT !!!!!

     We love birds.  I don't think they should be pets~OK I'm afraid of them one to one (shame).  But truly I love to watch birds.  Years ago before it was the thing my Dad always had a bird feeder and we would be sure it was always filled.  Growing up I loved that I could count on a family of doves making a nest between my bedroom window and the chimney; I loved hearing their cooing.  Shortly after moving into our house here in FL we put up a bird feeding station.  I love learning which bird seed each species prefers.  We have different feeders so every one's happy.  I've trimmed branches and made it so the squirrels can't get to the food.  MaryEllen has done 2 different Science Fair projects on birds and their feeding habits.

    So all that to prove we really enjoy birds in our yards.  I think you'd have to agree we have made a welcoming and sustaining habitat for them~ I'm assuming you are nodding your head in agreement.

     The other day my status on FB was "It sounds as it Mother Nature is holding auditions the birds are all singing".  It was really glorious.  As part of my taking it easy routine I enjoy sitting outside in the morning listening to the birds.  It is a wonderful way to start the day and actually quite energizing. 

THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM BLOGGING ABOUT

Before we go any further please click here and listen to this. 

Did you notice that there were 4 different options to listen to. The bird you listened to is the Northern Mockingbird.  If you type Mockingbird into YouTube you can find them imitating car alarms, cell phones, as well as other animals including a cat~ yes a bird meowing like a cat; I wonder what Freud would say about that.

     The Mocking Bird is the official state bird for Florida.  (Whoops that may change things).  Florida isn't all that original as the Mocking Bird is also the state bird of Arkansas Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.  They are known to have over 200 songs.  Not as a species but EACH bird.

   Why am I educating you about this sweet bird with all his songs?  BECAUSE he sings religiously outside my bedroom window from 12midnight to 2AM.  I at first thought someone had one of those singing bird feeders and it had gone haywire. Yes I was outside at 130 looking for it!  Who knew ONE BIRD could make so much noise.  IF he sang one song it would be relaxing but NO.  The one in my yard is an aficionado of all the birds I hear sing during the day as well as some other non-bird sounds as well.

  

     This has been going on for the last 4 nights and of course doesn't seem to bother anyone else in my family (like that's a surprise).  While I tried going to sleep last night at around 1:15 I came up with a couple of what I am going to call "Survival Plans".  However having found out that it is illegal to kill or even harass Mockingbirds in Florida, as they are our state birds, I can not follow through on any of those meticulously devised strategies. Just let me add this... after 1am I can become pretty devious. And would training a cat to hunt this bird be considered harassment or more importantly could they prove it in a court of law? 

     Researching these glorious songsters I learned that it is only the males that sing at night.  Bachelor males.  That's right it is only the single males looking for a mate who sing at night.  I'm sorry but really!!! Why would they be wired this way?? What are the female birds doing besides sleeping at this time of night.  Can't you just picture the new season females (think debutantes) sitting together judging the males and thier songs:   Johnny sings better.  Tommy has a better repertoire.  I just love the way Matty does that cell phone ring! Well Danny can't sing well but his is territory by the Smith house.    Talk about eHarmony.

     I did find suggestions from a birding website on what to do in the meantime *because we couldn't think of these ourselves LOL:

Steps You Can Take

• First and foremost, close all windows including storm windows.
• Use a fan to help drown out the mockingbirds singing.
• Purchase soft foam earplugs
• Use your CD player, purchase relaxation CDs, sounds of rain, rivers flowing, or pleasant music.
• Move your sleeping quarters to another room in your house.

http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/singing-at-night.html

   So my sleep should not be bothered for too much longer.  Let's face it who has time to sing at 2am after they're setting up house and starting a family.