BATTLE FOR THE BIRDSEED

 

We love feeding and watching the birds which is why in the mountains when we’re there

if you visit us there’s a good chance you’ll see bird feeders everywhere.

It seems like such an easy task..fill the feeders…and see what birds we’ll greet…. 

but there are squirrels and there are raccoons who also like to eat.

The squirrels attack the feeders in the day…

while raccoons like to feed at night

both have one trait in common…an unending appetite.

As anyone who has ever had a bird feeder is aware

squirrels and raccoons are selfish…they do not like to share.

We’ve come up with a host of well-thought-out plans…but each one we’ve had to repeal

when the little bandits kept devising new and better ways to steal.

Until we remembered Deborah’s father…

he was gardener who always planted extra vegetables 

for any animal who happened by….

and decided with the squirrels and raccoons…his solution we’d apply.

So we purchased extra bird seed…and opened the Balsam Birdseed Café

Now…we refill the feeders as needed when the squirrels feed throughout the day.

And we make sure our feeders have a little birdseed in them before we turn out the  lights…so the raccoons will have a little snack when they visit in the night.

This way everyone is happy…we have a host of birds we get to meet

and their neighbors the squirrels and raccoons get enough to eat.

This also makes it easier to come to terms…

as each new day and night unfurls…

how for years we have been outwitted by raccoons…

and outsmarted by the squirrels.