The Things They Do!

The last few weeks I’ve been working at luring wild birds into our yard by adding a variety of feeders. There are feeders with a patio mix that does NOT sprout if spilled on the lawn or soil, there is thistle for the song birds, suet for the woodpeckers, peanuts for the jays (and squirrels), and a mix of seed with the husk for other birds that is strategically placed so as not to grow unwanted plants on our property. One of the more popular feeders is a compressed rectangular seed brick mix (8"x5"x2") that fits into a basket. Most birds love to cling to the basket and pick away at the seeds. Sometimes suet is placed in the middle of the brick for extra interest. I purchased an extra brick and had it laying on my night stand ready to refill the basket in a day or two, or so I thought.

On Thursday we had been invited to Carole’s for a river swim and BBQ, reminiscing good old days. We decided to not take Da Boys as we did not want to worry about them not being able to climb out of the river on their own, and leaving them in the car would have been a punishment in the hot weather. As we were getting ready to leave our home Da Boys started in on their pouting routine. Darn them. They make leaving them so hard. Well we had a WONDERFUL visit with Carole anyway as well as a great albeit torched dinner, a la Hawaiian. I love you Carole!

We got home tired and ready for bed. I stripped my clothes and was ready to fall into bed without turning on any lights or even brushing my teeth. Wait, what is that I feel under my feet along my side of the bed? Turn on the light. What is this? Where did this come from? Oh wait, I recognize this, I think. Yes I do! It is! Darn them!!!! They did. They ate 95% of the last seed brick I had on my nightstand! OH NO! Not only would I now have to replace the brick but worse: what goes IN must come OUT! But, how soon? Talk about a fibesome diet. Their stomachs were bulging. Is it safe to let them sleep in the house tonight? But they’ve never slept anywhere else. What do I do? So much for sleeping tonight. The only choice I had was to get up during the night several times to make sure they’d relieve themselves OUTSIDE.

The question is, did Da Boys suffer yet another attack of separation anxiety and as a result became destructive or were they trying to help me lure more birds into the backyard by helping me spread the seed around the only way they know how?

See the woodpecker eathing from the seed brick on the right? Click on picture to enlarge.