Republicans in my backyard

[question everything]

While at school, I would delight in feeding squirrels and watching their antics. In the middle of the Quad was an old oak tree with a large enough hole to accommodate about 9 squirrels. On cold, snowy days, I would approach the tree and tzk tzk them and they would literally spill out of the hole. Spouse claims to remember them first thing stretching.

Thus, having squirrels in my back yard is still a pleasure and we still feed them. But no such camaraderie. When I spread the peanuts on large enough area so that each can have his own "plate" some would first angrily chase others before even grab their own. Of course, while one is chasing the other, a third would quickly come and grab the treasure.

We also have a separate bird feeder, made of metal to prevent the squirrels from grabbing at it. And the beautiful red cardinal really likes it. I read that it is hard to spot the cardinals as they are shy and come right before sun down. Not in my backyard. The bird feeder has a perch all around it and several ports, enough for a few birds to feed at the same time. Not by Cardinal Rules. As soon as he sees another bird on the other side - a sparrow or a black-cap chickadee - he aggressively chases it away.

Years ago, when we lived in California, we had a hummingbird feeder with four ports on all four sides. As soon as one would notice that another bird is on the opposite side, he would chase it away. And then one hummer decided to claim the feeder as his own. He would perch on a wire that we used to secure the bougainvillea to the fence, hiding and when another bird would come to the feeder, he would catapult himself upward with a ferocity of a missile. Spouse nicknamed him Newt...

It seems, therefore, that for back yard animals the rule is: first, let no one else share in the spoils.

And Republicans do not believe in evolution?

[demnan]

1. Yes isn't it true

It is a cold snowy day here in Virginia. My large cylindrical feeder has been fought over all morning. I put a little seed on the patio for the smaller birds as well. The squirrels love the sunflower seeds in the little wood feeder and chase each other out of it. Them comes the bluejays diving down for peanuts trying to get two peanuts in their mouths at the same time. So laughable.

[question everything]

3. The small birds also enjoy old, stale bread torn into small pieces

or even the heels, after the rest was used for sandwiches.

Funny thing with the blue jays. I would throw a peanut in the shell and the jay would be the first to spot it and would dive directly into it.

Sometimes I toss a bread with peanut butter on it - torn into small pieces - and the squirrels first munch on the peanut butter, leaving the bread. But eventually somebody would grab the bread.

And they all come to drink water from the heated bird bath that replaced the small doggy dish before the temp. dropped.

[Aiptasia]

2. republican antics

Awww.. how cute. I bet the moles mowed your backyard down for access to the mineral rights below soil. What will Mr. Squirrel do now for shelter and peanuts?

[zbdent]

4. First thought from subject line: Call the exterminator

Oh, wait. He's probably in the back yard already . . .