The three trees, located just off the back porch, made a perfect setting. Just a few feet beyond the three trees, the woodland edge starts. The combination of the two made a perfect spot for a bird feeder.....or two.
It was not long before one feeder became two feeders. It wasn't long after that, the two became four and then five.....six. There is a long cylinder type feeder, with six feeding stations. This particular feeder is supposed to be squirrel proof. It is as far as the squirrels chewing on it because the perches and the piece that surround the holes is made of metal. But, one squirrel has gotten quite good at hanging, upside down, by grasping two stations with its back feet. Then it does sit ups to reach in, grab a seed and then resume the upside down position to eat it. So, in retrospect, it is not totally squirrel proof. This feeder hangs on a double hook pole and the other hook sports a flat box, supported by a cable from each corner. The bottom of the box is a screen that allows the rain to drain. This gives some of the ground feeding birds, that do not fit well on the standard feeder, a chance to munch above the ground.....the squirrels like it too. Much handier than having to hang upside down. Plus, when they leap off of it, most of the seeds do too.
On the top of the pole, where the two hooks split, is a piece of copper wire wrapped and shaped into a smaller hook. This is where the homemade grape jelly feeder hangs. The orioles have made good use of it, along with bees and even a hummingbird. Who knew that squirrels have a hankering for grape jelly?
On the center tree hang two small wire boxes. These hold a suet cake each. The small nuthatch and many variety of woodpeckers love to feed from them. On the edge of the porch is a hummingbird feeder, that sits on a small table. Who knew squirrels like sugar water?
One morning, the suet feeders were missing. Not a trace of them were to be found. Shortly there after, new wire boxes replaced the ones missing in action. They ended up having an added feature as they were secured to the tree with more wire that circumvented the trunk. The next morning, the suet feeders were still there but, most of their contents had been squished out, between the small wires and eaten. Replacing the suet cakes resulted in the same outcome a morning later.
One very early morning, the most logical suspect was seen sitting in the feeder area. A raccoon was rummaging through the seeds on the ground. It did not hear the door open nor the soft footsteps onto the porch. It did hear the "spttt" sound, looked up with the best "busted" face and high tailed it to the timber.
After that, it became necessary to bring in four of the six feeders inside......every night. The two suet feeders, the grape jelly express and the hummingbird juice. If a night was missed, something would be missing come morning.
Taking the four feeders out the other morning, a surprise awaited. On the ground, below where the suet feeders hang, was a gift....an empty suet feeder had been returned. Had the masked bandit had a change of heart. Had it returned one of the feeders, perhaps in the form of a truce?
As much as that idea sounded magical, it fit more into the category of non sensible. A search party had been sent out, when it originally went missing, but no trace of it was ever found. Rather than a guilt ridden raccoon, it most likely had fallen from the tree.
Obviously, the search party had never given thought to looking up. When the leaves have fallen, a new search will begin for the one still in hiding. Hmmmm, that would make eight, maybe they were re-gifted.
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