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Friday 27 November 2020

Squirrelly

The Red Squirrels along the boardwalk are familiar with humans and expect to be fed. They are not shy in approaching people and if you stop where they are, they will climb your leg, expecting you to give them food such as a peanut.





My husband and I spent time feeding the birds recently and the squirrels were quite indignant. We ignored them initially and the furry rodents made a high pitched sound with open mouths, as if to scold us. We gave them peanuts before we left however.


Near the end of the boardwalk, where a new bird feeder is enjoyed by the chickadees and nuthatches, the squirrels appeared to be stymied. They couldn’t enjoy the black seeds like the birds were doing. I previously posted this photo of a squirrel eating the leftover seeds at the base of the feeder, flicked out by the birds.





More recently, one squirrel figured out how to climb the feeder. 





We thought he didn’t make any further progress. Notice how far the cages are from the post.


Last week, one squirrel sat on a branch behind and above the feeder, figuring out a way to secure the last of the seeds at the bottom of the cages or waiting for the cages to be filled again.





This week we learned not to underestimate squirrels. We couldn’t believe our eyes as we approached the feeder and there was a squirrel in the centre of the cage in one of them. 





While we watched, he jumped from the outer part of the cage to the pole and slid down to the ground. We waited to see him move into the feeder again but weren’t lucky enough to see the reverse move.


These are clever rodents and we enjoy life with them along the boardwalk. There must be thousands of peanuts in storage along that boardwalk, ready for winter this year. You have to admire the instinctive forethought and determination of the furry creatures. We can learn much from them.


37 comments:

Martha said...

It looks like he did the impossible lol! I guess they find a way one way or another.

DJan said...

They are certainly clever and determined. They are the reason I stopped feeding the birds from my front porch. They became a real nuisance. But they are entertaining for sure! :-)

Anvilcloud said...

I posted a red squirrel on Flickr jus today. I think it is coming up here tomorrow.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Cute squirrels and photos. They are determined little rascals.
They always find a way to the feeders. Take care, enjoy your day! Happy weekend!

Ginnie Hart said...

Yes, we can learn much from them, Marie, in determination and perseverance. However, when they start chewing wires on your deck for outside music, one is ready to shoot them with a bee-bee gun. Did I say that???

Debra She Who Seeks said...

They are cute, no doubt about it!

Elephant's Child said...

I can remember seeing a documentary about the cleverness, the agility and the ingenuity of squirrels in the UK.
It seems that yours are no different.
I love that the bird feeder is a memorial. What a wonderful way to remember someone.

William Kendall said...

Give them enough time and they figure out things. There's no such thing as a squirrel proof feeder.

These ones are adorable.

Boud said...

Squirrels are engineers. You can't really outwit them. And they can put up a racket. As can chipmunks, endless tiny screams.

Mage said...

I really enjoyed this saga of the board walk squirrels. They seem very smart rodents.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

He must have squeezed through those not big "holes" between the wire!

✨🎄😊🎄✨

Tanza Erlambang said...

squirrel color looks so pretty... bright red.
Have a great weekend

Polly said...

They are cute and very clever. I admire them for working out how to get what they want.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Squirrels sure don’t give up easily. I have a love/ hate relationship with them.

Bill said...

Smart little critters. Their motto, "we don't give up, ever". :)

Red said...

REd Squirrels are pesky little critters. They got in my closed shed one time.

Sharkbytes said...

Hi- visiting you back. This is funny! I just posted about our red squirrel.

Joanne Noragon said...

Amazing dudes. I managed to confound them when I feed birds from a dozen feeders and squirrels were the ground crew.

John's Island said...

It would seem squirrels are smarter than I thought. For one thing, I can’t imagine him/her squeezing through one of those little square openings to get closer to the seeds. Must have figured out the place to go in was around the middle of the globe. Another thing … I would have thought the one who designed the globe would have made the openings too small for squirrels to get through. Fascinating!

Helen said...

Such cute images of this delightful creature.

Susie of Arabia said...

When my son was small, we would frequently go to a local park in Florida where the squirrels would get quite aggressive if we didn't feed them!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

They are smart little creatures and usually thwart our efforts to thwart them!

Retired Knitter said...

Those squirrels look well fed and in great shape. Beautiful really. What a wonderful place to walk.

Shammickite said...

If only we could harness the brain power of squirrels, we migh be able to produce the Covid vaccine faster.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Where there's a will there's a way they say Marie, they are adorable looking creatures the squirrels 💜

Margaret said...

They are certainly crafty and determined. There's a video out there of a guy setting up a squirrel obstacle course. I found it highly entertaining.

Debbie said...

hehehehe, they are miraculous, determined little critters and can accomplish the impossible!! your images are amazing, i am so glad you captured the little guy enjoying his "time inside"!!!

Angela said...

Amazing how it figured out that it can go through the spaces of the wired feeder. They are amazing and cute!

Rose said...

Oh, those squirrels are so cute...and I think them and a lot of animals are smarter than we expect a lot of times. There is a video on you tube of a guy trying to outsmart squirrels that is real elaborate but the squirrel always manages to get to the birdfood.

Tabor said...

I work very hard to keep our bird feeders squirrel-free. They are wily and greedy and destructive. Not my favorite.

Celia said...

There's a man who feeds the squirrels in our condo complex. They look so fat this year. Does that mean cold weather or is the squirrel man just overly generous? Alas they chew on the wiring here too. Cable, phone, outdoor power cords eek!

Anita said...

Wow !Soo cute! :)))

Catarina said...

Squirrels are very popular! I featured them in my post. I didn't have anything else to photograph that particular day. : ))

These are really good looking. : ))

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

My husband and I decided to hang a bird feeder in our yard this year since we are home all the time to enjoy the visiting birds. Well- the squirrels would not have it. Despite our many efforts, they found a way to get to that bird seed. They seem to be exceptionally aggressive this year coming on our deck and even our table. Maybe it's because I'm actually home to see them!

Down by the sea said...

Amazing how the squirrel got in the bird feeder. We have the same design in our garden it works well in preventing the seagulls ,magpies and pigeons from taking the food from the smaller birds. Sarah x

Susie of Arabia said...

Cute and clever little squirrel!

baili said...

incredibly beautiful beautiful amazing photos dear Marie :)))

loved looking at the naughty cute creature ,that is cool that in your area squirrels are as much friendly :)
i eagerly wait for moment so i can capture them when they visit my garden but they seem so shy and just ran away :(
they are clever creatures indeed but so entertaining to look at :)