Squirrel Proof Birdhouse - Feeder

I don't know why I didn't think of it before. Two years battling with their incessant appetites. I didn't see many this spring so there wasn't a problem. But the past few weeks....

Methods Tried

• Tried greasing the pole
• Wrapped the pole with aluminum thinking it would be too slick for them to climb
• Wrapped barbed wire around the top of the platform
• BB gun
• 22 Cal gun thinking the noise would scare 'em off.

None of those methods worked.

Then an idea clicked. Place some screening over the platform. I had to take the top off to lay some wire mesh with half inch squares, thinking no squirrel can get their snout through it. Another thought was I had to make it tight so their weight would not collapse the mesh making it easy pickings again. By using some blocking supports the mesh sits about 3/4 of an inch off the platform.

Two days and those critters must be crying the blues through the woods. Hell, they have enough nuts here and there if they can think of where they buried 'em. This way it just means they have to work harder but there hasn't been a good acorn drop since 2009.

I was concerned the birds couldn't get their beaks in to get the goodies, but it doesn't seem to be a problem. I had a few dozen titmouse's out there this morning feasting. By the way, I think it's bear proof now too. I had to rebuild it with more reinforcing.

Random Happenings

Yesterday afternoon while sitting on the porch having s half a smoke, I heard this yelp..or so it sounded like it,  then a domino effect sound. I knew the log pile fell over. I thought it had been leaning. Guess that's why a cord is measured four feet inn height. It got up to five or six feet. Shown is Lewis inspecting the grounds this morning. I wouldn't have minded if that neighbor dog that yaps at 5 AM was under it, but nope.

Good thing my elephant ear didn't get buried, but lost were 3 or 4 Caladiums.

What good are those little dogs that "mouth off" for no reason? Two weeks ago the place sounded like a freaking kennel out of control. It was horrible! There are something like (3) adult mutts and four or five puppies. I had enough, and made my displeasure known. It was okay for a few weeks until the past few days. First time I've been displeased with my neighbor.

Now good old Lewis (pictured) is a good dog. He barks when necessary, not just to exercise the jaw for nothing. A few days ago while visiting, Lewis begins barking. I figured some critter was about. Sure enough a Heron across the creek appeared unfased by his barking and didn't budge. I don't think Lewis wanted to chase it, as he did his thing from my porch.

Look here, a sunflower opens up. I can't understand why someone up 52 on the way to town has rows and rows of these things and yet mine are decreped looking. Oh well, I don't know how to spell it either.

El Presidente or whatever Lily flowering. Those things aren't healthy looking either...Forget all the Calla Lilies (not shown). I guess they'll wait till next year.

Here's a bright surprise up the drive. It wasn't there last year and is going to town. It's either some kind of wild morning glory, potato vine? Loaded with buds. Incidentally, one flowering morning glory this morning on the side of the house up the chicken wire trellis I built. Maybe all is not lost?

I gave up on the Allysum along the wall here. Now there's some creeping Jenny. Hopefully it will fall over the wall nicely over the next few months. Hard to see, just planted but they're in between the mounding Petunias on the edge. Those sprawling Petunias (last year) are a better choice there.

We just may have some tomatoes soon...someday.

Fish fertilizer. I've been hearing about it..not sure how well it works but I did put some in the hanging planter a few days ago and the plant greened up big time.

Summer Critters

The squirrels are back with a vengeance, and they have figured out my barbed wire bird feeder fortress. It's time for plan C..a BB gun.

I forget what these guys are called...about four inches long. Could be the Cicadas getting an early start this year. Lightning bugs are beginning to appear, but trying to get pictures isn't easy.

This marks the third year I've seen this turtle. It has to be the same one by scouting out the same area to lay eggs. Apparently this year unsuccessful as it's now covered with gravel. Poor critter has been trying for four days. Each morning I find new holes in my drive and she's always so tuckered out.

Not often I see Orioles in the area. Lucky to see a couple each year...

Orange butterflies just love the chigger weed.

Mountain Laurel & Critters

GGG keeps telling me "get some pictures of the Mountain Laurel." Okay, finally. Quite a few of them up the driveway. Most are white, whereas I thought there were more pinks. Plenty of them at the turn in the driveway near the bottom where the location of these pics were taken.

Let's see what else is new. Besides the chiggers that are now out we had a different critter visit a few nights ago. I'm assuming it was a bear by the looks of what happened to the bird feeder. Not to mention the grass is beaten down around the base of the feeder...and black hair found on the barbed wire.

Another smallish critter slinking around. It surprises me considering how much I've been turning over rocks the past few months I haven't seen more snakes. I'm guessing this is an eastern milk snake according to my brief research.

Oh I forgot those dirty birds that made a nest on the porch under the rain spout. Eastern Phoebes They love to crap all over stuff. They flew the coup Wednesday. I can't imagine them actually being able to live in the small nest shown. These guys were piled on top of each other. Five in all. And no, that's not momma bird in there either. The nest itself is almost flat instead of cone shaped.

I'll have to keep an eye or ear out for these things next year. They aren't invited!

Sounds Of The Morning - Songbird & Creek

Here's some sound taken at about 6:30 AM July 26.

Sounds Of The Night - Cicadas

Pic from this source.

I vaguely remember these things while growing up in Pennsylvania, but we always referred to them as locusts...didn't we? Seems they're confused often. However I don't remember them being so loud. So loud they drown out the creek noise. The below night video was taken about ten feet from the creek. If you compare to other creek videos you can get an idea how loud these critters are.

I've seen some laying on the ground in the morning but that's about it. Seems they live in wee little holes like this in the ground and love tree roots.

Btw, a few recipes for the critters if you like eating bugs...

Don't Need These Critters!

Stay away! There's enough greenery elsewhere to feed on. This is actually the first time I've seen deer on the property, but we know how destructive they can be with plants, flowers, bushes, and the like. Local dog Lewis likes to roam around at night barking at things. Seems he's scaring the deer away according to my neighbor. Keep up the good work Lewis.

Critters

I don't know why those danged Carpenter bees have been drilling into my house this year and last. There aren't visible signs where this was a problem in the past. It must be the stain used back in 2007 when I had the place done. There just isn't anything else that makes sense. 17 years and no holes and suddenly a bunch of them in two years.

Just this year about a dozen holes started in the porch roof with two becoming home until I plugged 'em up today with some 1/2" wood dowels. Why they start some holes and abandon some is a mystery to me. Near knots yes, but away from them? Must be the taste.

And we had a visitor from the creek this morning. It was about this time last year we had the same. Snapping turtle trying to find a place to lay eggs. She didn't go far. Looked around and went back over the patio head first towards the creek. Notice the claws.

No sign of any snakes this year and I have been digging through areas where they would be hanging out; rocks and such. The place is pretty lively around 6AM with some song birds tweeting away.

We Have Bird Feeders

But a local squirrel has been stealing the goods. It seems to be only one using the gourmet counter. Large number of those critters around this year. The expert seems to think it has something to do with the number of acorns that fell last fall. They're sprouting everywhere.

Birds so far this year:

• Blue Jays
• Cardinals
• Chickadees
• Titmouse
• Indigo Bunting- my favorite,very colorful
• American Goldfinch
• Robins
• House Wren?
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Redheaded Woodpecker
• Hummingbirds
  
  

A temporary break today from more thunderstorms expected Wednesday. Late afternoon sunshine for the first time since Friday.

Snakes And Other Critters

Living in the Ellijay area for almost five months I can't say any wildlife has me concerned. I still haven't seen the bears or coyotes the gal at the 911 emergency office talked about. I was in there to get what they needed for a post office box. Things that crawl and fly...yes I've seen some of them.

A large snapping turtle was spotted back in May laying eggs. Two species of snakes so far; both non poisonous. However a neighbor down the hill has claimed all the poisonous ones are around. I suppose it's just a matter of time. Here are a few cute guys...

Model #1 I believe a banded water snake, but there are a number of water snakes in this region.

#2 is a neat looking guy. This I know for sure is a Southern Ringneck snake...

Our next candidate is a nasty European Hornet. They are also termed Japanese Hornets for some reason. These guys started showing up in July and have been around since. Only a few spotted so far. I had an exterminator out a few days ago largely to take care of mice who got into the HVAC wiring in the crawlspace.

Here's a big surprise from this morning. A freaking bat! Yessir this critter was flying all over the place this morning after I turned the lights on. How it got in and for how long is unknown. Hard to really make him out because the back is turned to the camera.

Other wildlife spotted thus far.

• Scorpion in the bathtub (about 2" in length)


• Lot's of birds. Separate page coming soon.


• Squirrels, but not too many. They haven't even been into the bird feeder.


• Rabbits.


• Wasps, carpenter bees, yellow jackets