Thursday, November 30, 2017

Squirrel hawk wanted

Looking for raptors that will work for food

The arboreal rodents are mostly thwarted by feeders set up on sewer pipe
For at least a decade we used a bird feeder made by one of our grandsons, Raven. It was a platform feeder with a roof that stood on 2x4 legs a couple of feet off the ground. It worked great and was a hit with the whitetail deer as well. But then the Mongol hordes of squirrels arrived. They could clean out the feeder in just an hour or two.
So two years ago I made a simple platform set up four feet on three-inch plastic sewer pipe legs. Sure enough, it was too high for the red squirrels to jump up to and too slippery for them to climb. It worked like a charm until this year when one squirrel solved the puzzle. He would jump up to one pipe and upon striking it would spring off to one of the other three pipes and so on until he reached the wooden platform. He sort of ricocheted his way to the top. I couldn't believe it. So I sprayed the legs with WD40 and that has worked, so far.
Meanwhile the remainder of the dozen or so squirrels were cleaning out the small hanging feeders in the trees. So this year I made a single-pipe, T-shaped sewer pipe stand for these feeders as well. So far, so good.
I wouldn't begrudge the squirrels some sunflower seeds if they were nice little animals. The deer, for instance were pleasant, respectful visitors. But the red squirrels are vicious, evil, ill-tempered idiots. Nobody likes them. They don't even like each other.
Squirrel hawks, apply in bird to the above location. You can start work immediately.

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