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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 07:43 AM
Original message
Poll question: Am I providing enough nourishment for the squirrels?
The Hummingbirds haven't returned yet.


My sugar water concoction isn't going to waste. The Squirrels are hanging upside-down drinking nectar.











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Tuesday Afternoon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 07:48 AM
Response to Original message
1. Feed the birds and the squirrels
Morning Joani :hug: :donut: :hi:
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 07:53 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. Don't forget the chipmunks.
I think I found my niche in life
~feeding natures little ones and keeping the home-fire burning. It's still cold here!



:loveya::hug:
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Tuesday Afternoon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 07:56 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. and the rabbits, too ?!
:D
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 07:58 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. The bunnies scare Miss Frodo!
She screams at 'em but they ignore her.
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TZ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 07:59 AM
Response to Original message
5. As much as squirrels annoy me sometimes
I have great admiration for their physical skills and cunning. Its amazing what the little monsters can do to get into food!
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 08:05 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. I think they are cute!
I've only found a few truly squirrel proof feeders.


With 4 parrots living with us there's lots of leftover bird seed that I scatter on the ground for everyone to enjoy.


It's a riot around here in the summer. Chipmunks run over the toes of anyone who sits on the porch.

:hi:
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TZ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 08:23 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. Oh squirrels are cute..but some of the stuff they do is not so cute
My mom had a family of squirrels chew their way into her house..And her neurotic sheltie ran away from a baby squirrel...Okay the thought was hilarious.
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lost-in-nj Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 08:17 AM
Response to Original message
7. Hi you!!!
You are giving the squirrels diabetes!!!!

:rofl:

will they leave when the hummingbirds come back??

my problem with my feeder is ants.....

they can empty one in a day, it was amazing to watch...


:hi:


lost

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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-04-08 08:40 AM
Response to Reply #7
9. Hey there, lost-in-nj!
Why should I be the only one around my house trying to avoid diabetes? However I think the squirrels have a better balanced diet than I used to. :blush: I can't blame them for having a sweet tooth.

The yellow jackets are my biggest hummingbird feeder problems.

I did have ant problems at one feeder location :shrug: so I moved it.

I've seen hummers chase the squirrels and chipmunks off of their feeders. Hummers can be very aggressive.


:hi::hug:
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ThomCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 07:23 AM
Response to Original message
10. Hey, let the squirels indulge their sweet tooth too.
:9

:hi: :hug:

I'd put up another feeder, especially if you have all that extra feed you mentioned. It makes everyone happy. :)
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 07:30 AM
Response to Reply #10
11. A squirrel was the first one to drink when I changed the nectar.
I usually hang 3 hummingbird feeders (out of line of sight from the other ones).

The squirrels get plenty of food because I toss out the uneaten parrot seeds. They seem to be pretty good at shaking loose a few seeds from the squirrel proof feeders.


:hi:
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blindpig Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 08:56 AM
Response to Original message
12. solution
.
Hang your hummingbird feeders on a thin piece of wire between two trees. Just make sure the feeder is far enough from the trees so the squirrel can't leap to it. Foolproof, I've defeated those bastards.
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:15 PM
Response to Reply #12
15. I'm not tall enough for that one.
I know your suggestion works but I wouldn't be able to refill the feeders without getting drenched.
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blindpig Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:25 PM
Response to Reply #15
18. Nothing to it

Just run an eye hook into either tree, mine are about 6' off the ground, though 5' would be fine too. Just make sure it's a no traffic area if it's gonna be low, don't want anyone getting clothslined.
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bigwillq Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 10:43 AM
Response to Original message
13. The squirrels are all over
my feeder too. :( :cry: But I moved the feeder more out onto the branch and now it's harder for them to get to it. They try but they struggle.
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:20 PM
Response to Reply #13
16. They are currently destroying a new finch feeder.
Normally they avoid niger seeds but I tried a mix of sunflower hearts & niger seed, my mistake.

I think squirrels are really cute but I'm trying to feed the birds without going broke doing it!



Careful. Don't fall while you're trying to reach the feeder for a refill.

:hi::loveya:
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bigwillq Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:21 PM
Response to Reply #16
28. I AM going broke.
The squirrels eat so freaking much!

The other day I filled the feeder around 10 a.m. and when I went outside to have my after lunch cigarette at around 12:30 it was almost all gone. :mad:
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Orsino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:08 PM
Response to Original message
14. If you provide enough nourishment for the squirrels, they'll just make more squirrels.
Therefore, you are not providing sufficent nourishment.
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:24 PM
Response to Reply #14
17. Darn!
Do you think all of the seeds they are also snaggin' makes up for what they're missing by drinking sugar water? They waddle around plump and silky. I know their babies like it here.
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Tommy_Carcetti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:26 PM
Response to Original message
19. A Friend of the Squirrels Squirrel Award for you (with 10 honorary recs)
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:47 PM
Response to Reply #19
23. Thank you.


However I do not supply dinner jackets or ties at my squirrel feeding emporium.

Just nuts and very sweet colored water.

:hi: Cute pic!
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Inchworm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:34 PM
Response to Original message
20. We got our hummers here last week
So I hope you see them soon :)

I love the challenge of catching them in the camera. I also took their feeder and put it just inside my bedroom window. They freaking fly right into the house and eat. It rawks.


The squirrels won the battle with me. I am now a steady source of corn for them.


:hi::hug:
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:56 PM
Response to Reply #20
24. WOW!
You have a beautiful feeder.

I never thought about how cool it would be to have the little hummingbirds fly inside.










Note to self ~ pick up an ear of corn for my furry friends on my next critter food shopping trip.
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Inchworm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 02:06 PM
Response to Reply #24
27. Gonna need more than one ear of corn
Those suckers are insatiable.

I just looked at my feeder. I saw upthread about yellow jackets being a problem. lol, see them all inside the balloon? I have never seen it happen but I get tickled thinking about it.

A bee licking nectar then they break the surface tension enough to allow an air bubble to go in...-- SLURP -- the bee gets sucked inside.

I'm an odd one :)

:hi:
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suninvited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:39 PM
Response to Original message
21. We got ours March 30
don't see them everyday right now because of all the red paints and other flowers in bloom at the moment, but when they show up they swarm. I cant figure out exactly why some days they love the feeders and other days they ignore them.

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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 02:02 PM
Response to Reply #21
25. Maybe you see 'em on days when they need a sweet drink.
Perhaps they aren't getting enough water in the plant nectar.



:hi: When the Hummers show up in my little corner of New York they visit my feeders all day. It's amazing how many different in flight dances they preform.
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Deep13 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 01:44 PM
Response to Original message
22. #4, but with a real kitty.
Nice animation, BTW.
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 02:04 PM
Response to Reply #22
26. I snagged it as is.

I haven't learned how to do animations.



:hi: Glad you're enjoying it.
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xchrom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-08-08 06:36 PM
Response to Original message
29. i feed the birds, hummingbirds and squirrels.
i have two hummer feeders -- and both the other birds and the squirrels raid the feeders.
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In_The_Wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-09-08 04:33 AM
Response to Reply #29
30. It's worth every penny, every red food coloring stained finger.
They make me laugh with their efforts to drink some of the sweetness. I get lost watching the feeders when all of my hummers are back.
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