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Archive for the ‘Wildlife’ Category

A friend heard on the radio this morning that the Red Squirrel is becoming endangered. Is this true? And what can we do about it?
Long live the Squirrel!

preview for the wildlife / nature / conservation / cat documentary film Last of the Scottish Wildcats, exploring the imminent extinction of these beautiful cats that are also called the tigers of the Highlands. cat animal scottish wildcat wild tiger highlands wilderness scotland wildlife nature independent film …

Red squirrel conservationists invent an assault course to test the intelligence of these cute and rare forest animals. Will any squirrels complete the course? Watch this clip from BBC show Clever Critters to find out! Narrated by British comedienne Dawn French.

Crested Tit on Haith’s Suet Blocks, getting a high energy boost in time for winter.

Does this sound familiar? You’ve just filled your bird feeders and you’re successfully attracting a variety of songbirds to your backyard. But that’s not all you’re attracting: hordes of marauding squirrels are threatening to eat you, or at least the birds, out of house and home. With the price of birdseed these days, you can’t afford to feed those ravenous rodents, so what can you do to squirrel proof your bird feeders?

The best way to discourage squirrels is to make it difficult for them to access your bird feeders. A very effective method is to protect the feeders with a baffle. Squirrels can climb smooth poles and run along narrow clotheslines, but they cannot get by a strategically placed baffle. A conical or tube-shaped baffle, which is positioned approximately four feet off the ground, can protect a feeder that is mounted on a pole. A feeder that hangs from a line or tree will benefit from a top-mount baffle. When using baffles, you should ensure that the feeder is positioned at least 12 feet away from walls, fences, and tree trunks to prevent the squirrels from jumping to the feeder.

Another effective strategy is to buy a bird feeder that has been designed to be squirrel-proof or, at least, squirrel-resistant. There are a couple of variations on this theme. One style has a feeder surrounded by a cage that allows small birds in, but keeps squirrels and large birds out. This style is great for small song birds such as chickadees, finches, siskins and red polls, but could prevent some desirable species, such as cardinals, from feeding.

A second style of squirrel-proof feeder is weight-sensitive. When something heavy, such as a squirrel or a large bird, lands on the feeder, its weight causes the feeding stations to close, thereby preventing the critter from feeding. There are a number of models on the market, some of which are more effective than others.

If you don’t want to upgrade your bird feeding equipment, you can try thwarting squirrels by using blends of birdseed that they find distasteful. This an area where you need to exercise some caution. Some brands contain products, such as cayenne pepper, which can harm the birds. However, there are brands that simply have seeds which  squirrels will avoid, but which birds will still enjoy.

Finally, you can try keeping squirrels away from your bird feeders by distracting them. For example, you can install a box feeder filled with corn kernels or hang a corncob “trapper” for the squirrels to feed from. If your squirrels have their very own feeder, situated well away from any bird feeders, they may stick to their own turf and leave the birdseed alone.

There is no question that squirrels can be a nuisance around bird feeders and a costly one at that. However, keep in mind that squirrels are just being themselves. You shouldn’t let your desire to keep squirrels away from your bird feeders result in any harm to them. Don’t use poison or traps that will kill. Don’t use sticky material that can soil squirrel fur and bird feathers. Never add cayenne pepper to your birdseed (if a squirrel gets it in the eyes, the resulting misery and scratching may result in blindness).

Whatever you do, don’t give up on feeding the birds. It is possible to squirrel proof a bird feeder. Squirrels may be intelligent but, with careful thought, it’s not hard to foil them. After all, we’re smarter, right?

Now I know this is a pretty bad video… but I wanted to upload it as it shows my first ever Crested Tit sighting, spotted just a couple of hours into my first (and only) geniune day looking for them. So I’m pretty chuiffed about it to be fair. The Red Squirrel at the end was spotted by my friend Nick just 2 seconds before I saw ‘my’ bird! An ace day all round!

A short movie showing Red Squirrels in their natural habitat in part of the ancient forest in Scotland. The Red Squirrel is under severe threat from it’s Grey Squirrel cousin, an imported variation.

A new acquaintance with nice singing voice