Birdie Buffet update: The summer is gone. It’s cool and damp, sometimes wet. The squirrels are plumping up.
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The Jays are dedicated to grabbing peanuts and hiding them, but truthfully that’s what they always do.
Ms Pretty Bird is still in charge of the patio and lets me know when there’s several squirrels and Jays sitting around waiting for me to come outside with peanuts. She knocks on my kitchen window and then sits on the tall geranium planter across from the kitchen door, fluffs up her feathers in anticipation of my arrival. I have to be prompt!
I have a staging area just inside the door, half a dozen china tea cups on top of a small bookcase, with nuts sorted and ready. Extra big ones set aside for crows, regular size for squirrels and the smaller ones for the Jays.
Ms Pretty Bird is especially happy when she can carry two peanuts in her throat and a third one in her beak, she just feels more efficient when she can do that. So, the smaller peanuts are prized.
The crows only get a peanut treat occasionally. They did today, because it is Sunday and sometimes that’s enough of a reason. But usually they get popcorn. I make a pot of it in the microwave, and shake it out on the lawn in a row so several crows can peck at it without annoying each other.
For some reason, I like the contrast of the very white popcorn kernels being carried off by the shiny black crows.
They grab as many as they can claim, and fly off with them.
Today, they all got a couple of peanuts and then the popcorn. They wanted MORE peanuts. Of course.
Puff, one of my favorite squirrels, is very offended by the crows getting peanuts and runs right at them like a little bulldozer, letting them know that they don’t belong here.
They just hop out of her way.
Sammy doesn’t depend on Ms Pretty Bird, she stands up on my kitchen window sill and waves her arms above her head, letting me know she’s here again, several times a day.
Sometimes, there will be half a dozen or more squirrels on the patio at once, plus half a dozen Jays, the crows nearby on the lawn eating popcorn and Mr Towhee, Kinglets, Wrens, Juncos, Chickadees, Finches, Sparrows and more all here at once. A real circus. 🎪
The squirrels are pretty good about taking turns getting peanuts from me, as I hand them out, but sometimes there’s a bit of growling, chasing and squeaking.. now that my dear Bobby is gone, no more whirling dervish fighting, though.
A couple of days ago, a squirrel accidentally ran inside my kitchen. That used to get me a bit excited. Now, I just calmly talk them back outside. They definitely understand tone of voice and some of them do learn words and their names.
The crows have been very suspicious and nervous but I see them carefully watching the Jays and squirrels running right up to my feet and getting peanuts. One bulky old crow keeps coming a little bit closer and closer to the patio. Hm.
We’re moving into the rainy season, and sometimes the squirrels and Jays come onto the covered patio soaking wet.
I should start offering a blow dry service. 🙃
