• Mike B
  • 21 Oct 2021 12:53 PM
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D-RATS! The garden has gone quiet!

  • Mike B

    In reply to Linda257:

    Linda257 said:
    Fingers crossed Mike, all goes well...look forward to seeing your happy garden again soon.

    Thanks Linda.

    Getting some interesting Cyril activity, I think one has been doing some stretching exercises and managed to get past the lampshade!

    Trailcam repositioned to capture the event, hopefully.

    Mike

    Flickr Peak Rambler

  • Mike B

    Some interesting videos on the trailcams now the feeding station has been moved, and one which sends a shiver down my spine....

    A grey squirrel beginning to reach out to the feeder...
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHtSYr

    One final attempt to reach across, and just about there
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHYvKx

    After numerous attempts to reach across to the feeder, the squirrel finally makes it on.
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHYvpn

    This next one sends a shiver down my spine!
    A grey squirrel leaps from the right onto the feeding station!
    Precision leaping!
    The playhouse has been removed in the interests of squirrel safety.
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHTcEU

    This one was viewed from the other trailcam at the same time as the one above. Ignore the crow, which triggered the camera.
    A grey squirrel leaps from the old playhouse (right) onto the feeding station (left)
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHYwvq

    Mike

    Flickr Peak Rambler

  • Gardenbirder
    How far apart were the playhouse and the feeder pole, Mike?

    Kind regards, Ann

  • Mike B

    In reply to Gardenbirder:

    Gardenbirder said:
    How far apart were the playhouse and the feeder pole, Mike?

    2.8mtrs!

    Hence why Cyril flung itself hard at the feeding station pole, and with brilliant accuracy.

    I bet the chest ached a bit afterwards, or, as the old saying goes, where there's no sense.....

    There has been a attempts from the camera on the tripod, but the tripod wobbles, so thankfully, that was as far as they got. However, the garden fence is just short of 4 mtrs away, and there is regular perching there looking over, but as yet, no attempts.

    Mike

    Flickr Peak Rambler

  • Gardenbirder

    In reply to Mike B:

    Not surprised at that distance, Mike. We had to move our feeder poles to about that distance from any possible launch site, and while the Squirrels still climb the poles in hopes that the plastic domes have disappeared, we have not seen any successful attempts to leap to the feeders since the last placing of the poles, although we still move them around occasionally to reduce the chance of disease build-up underneath. Our Squirrel population is still growing, but at a slower rate than before. The sparse nut and acorn crop this year may help to slow their population growth over the winter, too. They still compete with the Corvids and Wood Pigeons to glean the droppings from the feeders and together they seem to be doing a good job cleaning up--we have not yet seen rats in this garden, fingers crossed on that.

    Kind regards, Ann

  • Mike B

    In reply to Gardenbirder:

    I will add, they are eyeing up a 4mtr leap!

    If they manage that, I'll give in, the garden is only 8 mtrs wide!

    Mike

    Flickr Peak Rambler