Up The Farway Tree

Dogs, Squirrels and Birds

Being a bit of a secret bird lover (not so secret now eh) I have been trying to attract different species to my garden with a variety of seeds and nuts to suit all tastes. Last year my bird table was a hive of activity with frequent visits from all the usual garden birds and I was feeling quite pleased with my efforts. This year is a different story however, as I have been invaded by squirrels. An entire community. At first they simply chewed my plastic feeders to get the seeds out so I bought metal 'squirrel resistant' feeders. Then they just pulled the feeders off the hooks and opened the tops, so I tied all the feeders onto the hooks with wire. Now they just spend 24 hours a day hanging upside down taking one seed out at time until they have emptied each feeder. I can't accuse them of being lazy, that much I can say. At one point I saw at least 4 squirrels around the table at the same time - one on the feeder, one on the roof of the bird table, one burying seeds in my flower pots, and the other appeared to be perched on the fence post as a look out. I am concerned by this seemingly well orchestrated effort. Indeed these do not appear to be your average squirrel, and it would not really surprise me if I came downstairs one morning to find one munching on my breakfast cereal (from a bowl, using a spoon)



So how am I going to overcome this problem? I am really not sure. I have tried putting chilli powder on the bird seed (this is a RSPB recommendation, not a random thought I had one day). Apparently birds don't have the receptors for spice, but squirrels do and they don't like it. Well that's the theory. I first tried it a few months ago, and I was lucky enough to witness the first squirrel to sample my chilli seed mix. He tried one seed. Nothing. He tried a second. Momentary pause. He tried a third. Eyes open rather wide, small furry paw starts rubbing at mouth, then he starts vigorously rubbing mouth on bird table, before finally scuttling up the garden with tail between his legs. I felt really guilty. I shouldn't have though, because before long, my furry little friends appeared to have developed a taste for the spicy fair and after the initial distaste, they decided that washed down with a naan bread or two, it really wasn't so bad. In fact they seem to quite like it. Following this I tried the method of letting Seb into the garden whenever I saw one. Needless to say Seb enjoyed this immensely but unfortunately he was outwitted by these furry rodents at every opportunity. After some initial concern, the squirrels realised he was all bark and no bite, and became rather nonchalant about the whole thing. They will run half way up the garden at high speed before suddenly stopping and standing absolutely still. Seb will continue past them at full tilt to the bottom of the garden, unaware that the chase is over. The squirrels will then nip across the garden and over the hedge, leaving Seb standing bewildered and confused by the magic vanishing creatures. I am now toying with the idea of a squirrel feeder, as it may at least keep them off the bird table. Andrew suggested a suitable alternative would be an air gun. My love for all animals has yet to rub off on him.

Since I am on an animal story telling roll, I will just finish with a Seb observation. I am not sure that all dogs are as huffy as Seb is - comments are welcome. After the initial 24 hour cold shoulder he likes to give me when I have been on holiday, Seb appeared to have forgiven me. That was until I refused to play with him yesterday, having just got back from work and not feeling too great. After this rebuff, he padded about the house looking for something to bother me with. He first tried pulling a box of chocolates off the coffee table, before I promptly moved them. He then wandered into the hall and climbed up onto the sideboard (I am only realising how weird this is when I see it in writing). He likes to do this to see if anyone will come and tell him to get off. I just ignored him. Fortunately he just climbed back down, unlike the last time when he decided to knock over the wooden vase that sits there, and noticing that I was watching from the living room, defiantly push it off the unit with both paws, and then casually watch as it rolled across the floor. Anyway, having climbed down from the unit, he then came back into the room and lay at my feet -bottom facing me and head looking away. He refused to look round when I said his name. Ignoring him once again, he sighed loudly several times before going upstairs and sticking his head through the bannisters and sitting motionless in this position for at least 15 minutes. He finally gave up with the attention seeking behaviours and went to his bed, although this was in a contorted position so he could remain facing the kitchen door, in order to present anyone that entered with his forlorn look. I have no idea where he learnt this kind of behaviour. Certainly not from me.



A much younger Seb - but gives you the idea of his 'forlorn' look