Feed the birds with the squirrel-n-ator!

Yes that is right, you saw it here first, The Squirrel-n-ator!

The story goes that  I got so tired of those fence rats (Grey Squirrels) chewing up my bird feeders just to get at the seed I was literately at my wits end. My wife in all her wisdom went on line and purchased me the toughest bird feeder she could find "The Squirrel-n-ator". OK, it is really not called that. I just made it up. But the first time I saw those little thief's coming around with thoughts of chewing out the seed pecking holes, watching all the seed hit the ground, and feasting I thought.....Hah...take that you little grey devils! The Squirrel-n-ator was born!

It has a steel cap and feed holes that are painted with a very slippery paint. It is almost impossible to scrape away. I tried a small spot simulating a squirrels sharp teeth with a knife and not a mark I could make. You can't imagine the joy found sitting in the window watching their feeble attempts to get at the seed. I could almost see the pain in their eyes as time after time they tried to chew it and failed to get the seed. So what did they do, they went over to the suet bar holder and ripped it apart and ate it all! However, that is another story for another day as it involves me, a BB gun pistol, a broken broom and a lot of shouting.

All cleaned and loaded for the little birds in the yard.

Another view....

The suet cage. Note I stuffed it with bread and a dinner roll. This thing locks shut, how the heck do the squirrels open it?

Winter sun equals chicken fun!

Hey all - nice to have you back and reading. Yes it is winter here in the PNW but yesterday we got some sun. I let the girls out and was feeding them some leftover buns from a dinner. They love to peck and eat just about anything. But what they love the most is to be let out and roam around in the sun! They are so funny the way they lay out and sunbath some too. I got a couple of pics and thought that you might think they are funny.

You will note that part of the run is covered with some very light weight plastic netting. That is because the run is on a bit of a down hill slope and they kept running and jumping over the fence. So for about $3.50 I fixed them by covering the run. No more break outs! 

Here they are looking at the new mole hill in their pen. I feel sorry for the mole as they will catch it! I just tossed them some leftover rolls. A favorite in the coop.

Here is Bonnie. She is so pretty but kinda dumb. I could make a blond joke here but I will not.

Here is a great picture of Joan. She is my noise maker and talker. She is always complaining about something. This is a great picture don't you think?

The Mason Bee's cocoon harvest

Hello again. Well late fall is the time to take the Mason Bees out of the tubes and harvest the cocoons.I had a good supply of them. I could only show a few as I had over 80 tubes to clean out! I got about 200 cocoons when done and they are safe and sound in a special holding box in the refrigerator.

Note the mud plugs and pollen left over from some of the tubes. It is clear that there was an abundant amount of food for the bees to eat and gather.

Close up of the pollen and mud plugs.

The cocoons from a tube. The big ones are female and the smaller are male. The little strands are there waste material.