Battling wits with squirrels
When I noticed a squirrel taking a snooze in the middle of my
bird feeder, nestled into the bird seed, I figured it was time to
pay more attention to other ways to feed the birds. Mine is a small
platform feeder, the
”
platform
”
being the bottom half of a large hard-shell gourd shaped to look
like a big open sunflower.
The birds seem to like it. Now, too, the squirrels.
Battling wits with squirrels
When I noticed a squirrel taking a snooze in the middle of my bird feeder, nestled into the bird seed, I figured it was time to pay more attention to other ways to feed the birds. Mine is a small platform feeder, the “platform” being the bottom half of a large hard-shell gourd shaped to look like a big open sunflower.
The birds seem to like it. Now, too, the squirrels.
Made-made bird feeders are fine, but the way to really attract all kinds of birds is with a bird-friendly garden. But what, exactly attracts birds? There are numerous books available on bird gardening. My search took me to a neat little booklet by garden guru Jerry Baker, “Bird Garden Secrets: 101 Terrific Tips for Birding on a Budget.”
Different birds are attracted by different things. But, basically, all it takes is a protection of trees or shrubs, a source for water, and an array of tasty flowers, bugs, lawn grubs and berries to fill the bill – and the stomachs – of many common birds.
For starters, annual flowers are a quick fix for hungry birds. They are particularly enticed by flowers that set seed. My favorite in summer is multi-branching sunflowers, which attract cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees and other seedeaters. Mixed wildflowers entice these birds in spring, and cosmos say “come and taste me” in fall. It’s not too late to put in a planting of cosmos from six-packs at the garden center. Cosmos will grow and flowers through fall until the first frost. Some other favorites are morning glory, honeysuckle and trumpet vine. Read the labels since flower packets and plant stakes often bear the words “Attracts birds.” Reach for those.
But there is more to welcoming birds than putting out a buffet of annuals and vines. Evergreen shrubs and trees are a welcome shelter to chickadees, titmice, nesters and birds looking for winter shelter. Every year, I can expect to find a nest in the center branches of my big lemon tree, and another within the orange tree, a safe hiding spot among the thick branches and leaves.
Shrubs that form fruit or berries are also enticing. Pyracantha with its rich red berries attracts robins, thrushes and other fruit eaters. An annual happening is that robins get drunk on the fermenting berries and are spotted staggering around the yard. Cotoneaster feeds finches, cedar waxwings and similar fruit eaters.
So, does this mean you should give up on your seed feeders? Not at all. Put out sunflowers and the songbirds will come to call. Cracked corn, millet, suet, raisins, crumbled stale muffins, finely chopped apples in tray feeders are the bird equivalent to a quick fix at In ‘N’ Out burger.
But wait a minute. Doesn’t all that good stuff attract the squirrels, too?
Outwitting the squirrels is a job in itself. Experiment with a squirrel baffle. Baker suggests placing a couple of 2-liter pop bottles stacked on top of one another on a bird feeder pole. It will frustrate the heck out of the squirrel, because it can’t climb the pole. Another trick: Mix cayenne pepper with Vasoline, and coat it on the feeder pole or hanging wire.
The squirrel baffle I like best involves using a Slinky, another of Baker’s ideas. Hang the Slinky from the bottom of the feeder, around the feeder pole. When the squirrel leaps for the pole, it grabs the Slinky and gets dumped on the ground. I’ve tried this. It works, and – bad me – it’s entertaining to watch.
In the end, there are good reasons for inviting birds into your garden. They eat insects and bugs, and help control the pest problem. A gentle reminder: There is no need to use insecticidal sprays for insect control. With a little encouragement the birds will welcome your invitation to visit, and, as a reward to you, the thoughtful gardener, will do their best to keep your insect and bug population in control.
Plant a Row for the Hungry: All it took was one week of sweltering weather for gardens to sudden ripen and fresh produce to arrive at Community Pantry.
Plant a Row for the Hungry home gardeners and specialty growers shared a whopping 2,425 pounds of vegetables and fruit this past week. That brings the total to 3,150 pounds so far this year.
“This has been an amazing week for others to share their garden produce with those in our community who need it most,” says Mary Anne Hughes, Pantry director. The fresh produce is included in food bags distributed throughout San Benito County by the Pantry staff.
If you have garden produce to share whether it’s one bag or an entire truck full, the Pantry is located at 30 Airport Ave., Hollister. For more information, call 831-637-0340.
