| Bird Watching -- Feeding Squirrels On Purpose |
From "DIY Bird Watching"
episode DBW-102 |
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On the Virtues of Squirrels Squirrels are notorious for robbing bird-enthusiasts blind for every morsel of bird food they've placed in their bird feeders. For that reason, squirrels have gotten a (perhaps deserved) bad rap among bird watchers, many of whom view them as the embodiment of pure guile. Squirrels do, nevertheless, have their vocal supporters. There are those who just plain like having them around. After all, the squirrelophiles insist, don't these furry forest creatures deserve our love? Perhaps, like those cows who scale billboards to scrawl messages espousing the virtues of fast-food chicken, squirrels are crying out to us. For those people who feel emapthy and an affinity for these cunning arboreal rodents, following are instructions for building a feeder custom-made to keep squirrels fat and happy.
Building A Squirrel Feeder Materials: Saw (compound sliding miter-saw or table saw with push blocks)
2x4 about 11-1/2 inches in length
1x8 about 12 inches in length
3-inch 10-penny nails
1-1/2 inch cement-coated nails
Hammer
Cob corn
Safety glasses
Steps: Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection when working with wood, saws, drills and any power tools.
- The squirrel feeder is simply a length of 2x4 nailed onto a 1x8 backing, with miter-cut supports underneath. Nails protrude up through the base platform to hold the ears of corn.
- Measure and miter cut the angle of the triangular supports from 2x4 stock (figure A). These pieces, cut at a 45-degree angle, will attach to the underside of the 2x4 base and the backboard to provide support.
Safety Alert: Due to the size of the support piece, watch your fingers and use extreme caution when cutting angles
- Measure and cut a length of 2x4 to 8 inches.
- Drive two large nails (equally spaced apart) through the 2x4 so that at least 1-1/2 inch of nail is protruding on the other side. These will be the nails that hold the corn.
Note: To avoid damaging your work surface, drive the nails using some scraps of wood as spacers.
- Use nails to mount the 2x4 to the 1x8 backboard about 4 inches from the bottom, making sure that the exposed portions of the nails are facing up (figure B).
- Add the miter-cut supports (equally spaced) to the under side of the 2x4.
- Add a centered nail at the top for hanging or mounting to a tree.
- Place two pieces of cob corn, jammed upright, onto the protruding nails (figure C). Your squirrel feeder is now complete.
- Mount your feeder on a tree in your back yard, sit back and watch the fun (figure D).
RESOURCES :
Don and Lillian Stokes' website
Stokes Birds at Home
Website: www.stokesbirdsathome.com
Outwitting Squirrels: 101 Cunning Stratagems
Model: 1556523025
Author: Bill Adler
Full title --
Outwitting Squirrels: 101 Cunning Stratagems to Reduce Dramatically the Egregious Misappropriation of Seed from Your Birdfeeder by Squirrels
Chicago Review Press
Squirrel Wars: Backyard Wildlife Battles & How to Win Them
Model: 1572232986
Author: George H. Harrison, Kit Harrison
Willow Creek Press
Mincoqua, WI 54548
Phone: 715-358-7010
Fax: 715-358-2807
Email: andread@newnorth.net
Website: www.willowcreekpress.com
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