I wrote about an adventure with squirrels on a Sunday morning in my bird feeders. In the end there was a truce called and an area was set up to feed the squirrels in an attempt to keep them out of the bird feeders. This is an update on how the experiment is coming along. The experiment has been a farce.
It was not difficult to pick a spot to set up a buffet for the squirrels. The yard has fruit trees that are not producing this year so putting the food between them seemed like a great option. Carefully laid out it looked like a nice addition to the yard.
In the beginning the squirrels enjoyed the new feast put before them. Munching on the cornucopia of bird seeds appeared to be a dream come true. Soon the squirrels invited their family and friends and the food ran out quickly.
This is the point where greed entered the picture. The birds coming to the lower feeders would savor the seed and leave some for the late afternoon visits. The feeder looked extremely appealing to a few squirrels and the truce was broken. I was again in the midst of a bird feeder war.
Greed in animals is much like it is in humans. So many times we see things and become envious. Contentment with our lives is gone and now is the time to seize things from where the grass appears greener.
Again taking my broom out the door to the squirrels I look like a cartoon character. Picture a woman in her robe chasing a family of squirrels with a broom. Truly a funny site to see. A new adventure each day as the family of squirrels runs to the fence, sits on it, and appears to be entertained.
The days pass by and there is a new character in this drama. I love God and He has an interesting sense of humor. Today is the day the hawk enters the drama.
My yard has a few trees and the bird feeders are in the part of the yard that is flat and covered with grass. There is no place to hide and to escape the squirrels must run over a retaining wall to the fence and run over roofs of houses to the woods to escape. My neighbors do not have trees because our neighborhood was developed in a field.
The hawk lands on the fence and the squirrels run when his presence is sensed. The hawk does not appear to be hungry today as he sits and observes the site. He continues to sit on the fence for a while and then flies off into the nearby cluster of trees.
The next day the squirrels return to the bird feeders bypassing the area set aside for them. Greed has totally taken control and now there will be no site off-limits to them. This persists for a while because I am out with the broom again.
The hawk reappears this day and now he is looking for a meal. The squirrels scatter and the hawk is on the prowl. He goes for a squirrel that has made it to the roof of the house next door. The hawk dives for the squirrel and misses him as the squirrel scurries into the covered gutters on the house. The hawk then leaves for the day.
The next day there are fewer squirrels in the yard and they mostly stay in their appointed area. The cover of the few trees provide a little protection against this predator. All seems well for them until the hawk returns this morning.
Again the hawk goes for his prey as the squirrel who has decided to come into the unprotected portion of the yard to eat from the bird feeders. The squirrel runs frantically toward the fence and scurries to the top post. The hawk swoops down and hits the fence. Both are unharmed and the squirrel escapes.
For the last several days the squirrels have not returned to the yard. I have removed their buffet spot and all is now peaceful in the yard. There is now a family of blue birds in the bird house. The song birds have returned and are feasting on the seed from the bird feeders.
The hawk has not returned since the last squirrel incident. He can still be seen flying near the yard in the woods across the empty field behind my neighbor’s house. For now the bird feeder wars seem to have ended.
My broom sits near the door in case there is another episode in this drama. There is a calmness in my soul as I listen to nature and the sounds of the song birds. The bird feeders remain full and all is well with the world.
copyright 2017 Debbie Pierce
<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/farce/”>Farce</a>
Piper's Adventures 
Funny story. Hope you can sign a truce. Good luck.
Thank you. Thanks for reading.
This morning on my way out to work, I saw a chipmunk running across the ground. He was so cute. I’ve been trying to figure out how to put poison out in my storage building for the mice without fear of hurting my chipmunk. Some days I think I am really crazy.
It is difficult to control mice once they find a home. My mother put out cayenne pepper to help control her rodent issues. It will not hurt the chipmunks but may persuade the mice to go elsewhere. Thanks for reading.
Nice
Thank you. Thanks for reading.