OT Things to ponder

[btd64]

Nice job on the PT. They have or had one up at Battleship Cove....GP

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

This is for Orm if no one else. Queen Smaug has become quite efficient at driving off other birds. I'm supposed to be counting birds at my feeders today and tomorrow for the Cornell Ornithology Lab Feederwatch project. I've so far today seen one Downy Woodpecker land on one of my feeders and before I could identify its gender or it could grab a bite the Mockingbird was on it. I don't have seven feeders out there for one mockingbird. I'm fixing to dump out all the feeders into trays which if birds don't take it the squirrels will and I'll just not put up any feeders until the queen plays her game of thrones and moves on to another territory. Otherwise I might start thinking about a movie starring Gregory Peck.

So what is the status on Queen Smaug? And the other, various, birds that visit your backyard, and feeders.

The world wants to know. And, more importantly, I would like to hear it. [:)]

I've been discouraging her by not using feeders she can access or without anything she wants (fruit or suet). She's patrolling less often and other birds get a chance to feed now and then. She initially was driving off robins but haven't seen her do that in a while. They have almost identical diets. She still comes around for the water. I'm counting birds on Sun/Mon so I'll put out some more feeders and a hopper feeder she can access, but I'll just put peanuts and sunflower seed in it and see what happens. She completely drove off the three blue jays that were hanging around, I can't even hear them in the distance. Later in the spring I might put something out in the front yard for her and see if she leaves the backyard alone. She should be mainly hunting for bugs then. I put out some praying mantis egg cases so she'll have competition. She'll have to eat them if she can spot them.

[Orm]

Thank you for the update. [:)]

How often do you count birds?

[MakeeLearn]

Keep the beavers away from the birdbath...

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Thank you for the update. [:)]

How often do you count birds?

Every Sunday and Monday, but the first week of April will be the last until November. They aren't interested in the period in front of us.

[geofflambert]

Keep the rats away from your pineapples.

[geofflambert]

Keep your shrews away from my prickly pears.


Sorry about that, I have a type of cactus which is apparently prohibited in this forum.

It rhymes with tickly bears.

[geofflambert]

I wonder how this forum handles bishop****. Or p****ly heat.

[geofflambert]

Censor this, forum. Inflagrante delicto.

[geofflambert]

Let's see what I can get away with. A fine gift for any lady friend, an armadil*o

[Will_L]

Do you eat the tickly bear cactus fruits or leave them for the birds?
If you leave them, what birds eat them?

[geofflambert]

I don't mess with them. I see them flower but haven't noticed any fruits, haven't been paying attention. I'd expect the squirrels might get them first but that cactus has two kinds of thorns, the big obvious ones and then the tiny ones. Those tiny ones are a pain, I don't get close to them without leather gloves.

Some people skin them and cook them, I don't know how, seems like a lot of trouble.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

ORIGINAL: Orm

Thank you for the update. [:)]

How often do you count birds?

Every Sunday and Monday, but the first week of April will be the last until November. They aren't interested in the period in front of us.

Thank you.

That is a lot of counting days. [:)]

I haven't heard of something similar in Sweden. The only bird count I heard of is the yearly national count of the winter birds that is made for a few days in January.

[AW1Steve]

There is a more direct answer to "Queen Smaug". The two words "pellet gun" come to mind. If she's that much of a terror, then other wild life would probably chip in to buy you one. [:D] The other two thoughts are "get a cat" (but you have one , and I strongly advise against outdoor cats. You cut their life expectancy by up to 75%). Or use a "non-lethal" paintball gun. It won't hurt her much (yes they DO sting) but it might discourage here and "Technicolor wildlife" is funny to look at. My brother once had a raccoon hitting his trash cans every single night? Ever see a "tie dyed raccoon"? [:D] (It gave up eventually.)[:D]

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

There is a more direct answer to "Queen Smaug". The two words "pellet gun" come to mind. If she's that much of a terror, then other wild life would probably chip in to buy you one. [:D] The other two thoughts are "get a cat" (but you have one , and I strongly advise against outdoor cats. You cut their life expectancy by up to 75%). Or use a "non-lethal" paintball gun. It won't hurt her much (yes they DO sting) but it might discourage here and "Technicolor wildlife" is funny to look at. My brother once had a raccoon hitting his trash cans every single night? Ever see a "tie dyed raccoon"? [:D] (It gave up eventually.)[:D]

I respectfully disagree about outdoor cats. Cats are happier and healthier if allowed to go out and come in at their discretion. Provided the neighborhood is safe.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

There is a more direct answer to "Queen Smaug". The two words "pellet gun" come to mind. If she's that much of a terror, then other wild life would probably chip in to buy you one. [:D] The other two thoughts are "get a cat" (but you have one , and I strongly advise against outdoor cats. You cut their life expectancy by up to 75%). Or use a "non-lethal" paintball gun. It won't hurt her much (yes they DO sting) but it might discourage here and "Technicolor wildlife" is funny to look at. My brother once had a raccoon hitting his trash cans every single night? Ever see a "tie dyed raccoon"? [:D] (It gave up eventually.)[:D]

I respectfully disagree about outdoor cats. Cats are happier and healthier if allowed to go out and come in at their discretion. Provided the neighborhood is safe.

Safe neighborhood? Where do you live? I live on a Air Force Base and there are foxes and coyotes. A family of rabbits lives in my back yard because there's a big fence. I've lived from Maine to DC to Florida to Seattle , Guam , Omaha Nebraska and I'm still not sure what's a safe for cats neighborhood. Heck in half those places I didn't always feel safe! About the only "safe for cats" neighborhood I've ever lived in in my life was Winchester England. There the biggest cat predator was the big metal , four wheel monsters (called cars). [:D]

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

There is a more direct answer to "Queen Smaug". The two words "pellet gun" come to mind. If she's that much of a terror, then other wild life would probably chip in to buy you one. [:D] The other two thoughts are "get a cat" (but you have one , and I strongly advise against outdoor cats. You cut their life expectancy by up to 75%). Or use a "non-lethal" paintball gun. It won't hurt her much (yes they DO sting) but it might discourage here and "Technicolor wildlife" is funny to look at. My brother once had a raccoon hitting his trash cans every single night? Ever see a "tie dyed raccoon"? [:D] (It gave up eventually.)[:D]

I respectfully disagree about outdoor cats. Cats are happier and healthier if allowed to go out and come in at their discretion. Provided the neighborhood is safe.

Safe neighborhood? Where do you live? I live on a Air Force Base and there are foxes and coyotes. A family of rabbits lives in my back yard because there's a big fence. I've lived from Maine to DC to Florida to Seattle , Guam , Omaha Nebraska and I'm still not sure what's a safe for cats neighborhood. Heck in half those places I didn't always feel safe! About the only "safe for cats" neighborhood I've ever lived in in my life was Winchester England. There the biggest cat predator was the big metal , four wheel monsters (called cars). [:D]

Suburban neighborhoods with plenty of fences are safe. Cats can go over, under, or through fences. No coyotes or foxes - just skunks, possums, and raccoons. Assuming the felines are vaccinated.

[MakeeLearn]

Birds of prey will even target full grown cats.

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: scout1

ORIGINAL: Zorch



Jolly good fellow, Prince Philip.

It's no wonder the British Empire nearly conquered the world ......

warspite1

Mmmmmm Looks like we have a commie subversive in the ranks. Note that all troopers are sporting HM Queen Elizabeth's GBP Sterling symbol placed neatly on the upper thigh? Well no.3 is not. If it was up to me I would ensure that she is taken out of line and given a suitable course in correction. Or better still she can discipline me instead....

I would be more than happy to give the individual in question some private and personal instruction to resolve her indiscretion.[:D]

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

Darth Vaderette...

Now she could take me to the dark side.[:'(]

Although, on second thought I think it might just hurt too much.[:D]

Oh, wait as a JFB I've already gone to the dark side.[X(]