Backyard Critters and Projects
Feeding squirrels is a lot of fun and it always puts a smile on my face when I see them munching away at one of my feeders. Squirrels are omnivores that will eat just about anything. However there are some foods that are great to feed squirrels and some others you should avoid.
It is also important to differentiate between what to feed wild squirrels in your backyard and what to feed pet squirrels that are living in your house.
Let’s look at some of your choices!
Ever since I retired early from the Corporate world I have been terrified about over spending and having to get a “real job” again. However, I am splurging a little every now and then and trying to keep the balance between frugality and fun. In that spirit, I am taking my daughter and mother on a trip to Venice, Italy in a few days. I don’t mind spending money on travel but I don’t want to waste it either.
I saw this article over at The Money Mix about not getting ripped off while traveling and thought it was worth saving for reference. The article below is reprinted with permission. [Read more…]
The aptly named woodpecker is a fascinating bird—this animal is both resourceful and entertaining, giving birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts an easy, audible identifier: pecking! Listening to woodpeckers tapping on trees is a lot of fun but hearing them beat their heads against metal chimney caps, metal lamp posts or even satellite receiver dishes can seem pretty strange!
If you are wondering why woodpeckers peck on metal then you are not alone as it is a very common question! In this article, we’ll be exploring the four main reasons that woodpeckers peck and identify the two reasons why woodpeckers can often be found pecking on metal surfaces.
For the TL/DR crowd: Woodpeckers peck on metal because they want to be as loud as possible!
Putting up a bat house is a great way to help control insects while helping to conserve the bats in your area. There are a lot of bat houses for sale but they are some extreme differences between them.
This article will walk you through:
Let’s get started!
When woodpeckers go to work ‘drilling’ for the insects they rely on for food, we can clearly see that they do significant damage to the surfaces of the trees they peck. Observing this behavior, it’s a reasonable question to ask: “Are woodpeckers bad for trees?”.
In this article, we’ll be answering this question using data that biologists and arborologists have discovered. Hopefully, in learning more about the ‘true’ damage that woodpeckers cause, you can develop a newfound appreciation for these fascinating and resourceful birds.
So, are woodpeckers bad for trees? Woodpeckers do minor damage to individual trees but are extremely critical in helping a forest stay healthy. So, overall, woodpeckers are highly beneficial for trees as a whole. Let’s take a closer look at why!
Pileated Woodpeckers are a unique and majestic sight to behold: their bold, red head plumage and trademark, black-and-white patterning make them very easy to identify in densely wooded areas throughout the eastern United States and in most of Canada.
This bird is often heard before it is seen, however, as it’s ‘drumming’ can be quite loud. The volume of Pileated Woodpecker drilling can be attributed to the fact that this is, indeed, a very massive woodpecker!
For birdwatchers or backyard wildlife enthusiasts, attracting Pileated Woodpeckers is a common topic, and there are some things that can be done to increase the chances of a Pileated Woodpecker showing up on your property to score a free meal or a rinse in your bird fountain.
I have been learning a ton while researching different bat questions for this site. One of the things I learned was that I could be a participant in the “Bat Community” without having to muck about in damp caves or musty attics.
It turns out that the easiest and most fun way of helping bats is to Sponsor a rescued bat at the Bat World Sanctuary!
The Bat World Sanctuary is located outside of Cool, Texas and was founded in 1994. They are a 501c non-profit and have the following Mission: [Read more…]
Throughout the eastern United States and even into parts of the Pacific Northwest, the Pileated Woodpecker is a common sight. This striking bird is very large—arguably reaching ‘crow size’ territory—with many observers reporting sizes that might surprise you.
So, how big is a Pileated Woodpecker? In this article, we’ll be exploring the wide variety of Pileated Woodpecker sizes, starting from when this bird hatches to when it reaches full maturity.
They perch on the sides of dead or dying trees, and if you’re lucky, you might occasionally find one battering away at a section of wood, as woodpeckers are known to do. This is a bird that looks unlike any other: of course, we’re talking about the Pileated Woodpecker.
Also known as Dryocopus pileatus, the Pileated Woodpecker would have been a much more common sight just a few hundred years ago, when this bird enjoyed abundant access to heavily forested areas throughout the eastern United States. However, in the 18th and 19th century, large swaths of wood clearing contributed to the sharp reduction of Pileated Woodpecker populations. Recently, though, their numbers have seen a healthy rise, making them an increasingly popular bird to look for when outside.
Today, if you’re fortunate enough to spot one, you’ll be able to identify it by it’s pinpointed head plumage and bold streaks of red, black, and white—the immediately identifying traits of this iconic bird. Once you’ve located one, you might find yourself thinking, “What do these birds eat?”.
They’re a common sight throughout most of North America, and to many, squirrels are as cute and furry as they are entertaining. They’re small, too—they don’t bark, and they even seem to have personalities all their own.
Granting all of this, it’s no surprise that squirrels are considered by some to be a great pet. But this all sounds too good to be true…can a cute, friendly, furry little critter that scales trees in a flash and hides nuts in its cheeks really be a manageable pet?
In this article, we’ll be exploring the many reasons why squirrels can become great pets. And, we’ll also be discussing the many lesser-known features of squirrels that can present challenges to prospective pet squirrel owners.
