Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Shall We Introduce Ourselves?, 0 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Sciurus,

I am NOT a wildlife hater. Not at all. I also enjoy watching those squirrels run and romp. There's always one that is the "Alpha" in the bunch and it chases all the others away to feed on all the goodies.
I only have about 3-4 of them here on a regular basis.

I live in an older development. When these homes were built (37 years ago) some of the neighbors chose to keep some of the old oak trees on their properties. I can see the squirrel nests in them.

I have at least 4 bird feeders going all winter/Spring. I have 2 of those big, tripple-tube ones with the squirrel baffle on top. They are really nice. I have a patio with a very high roof over it with 4 skylights in it. I hang these 2 feeders under that. They stay dry and the squirrels cannot get to them in any way. I can see all these birds feeding from my living room window. Sometimes. I even use my binoculars to watch.
I also hang a Thissle feeder for the Goldfinches and I throw a lot of Sunflower seed and corn on the patio floor for the squirrels and other critters that ground-feed to survive the winter. I have NEVER seen a owl here. We do have some hawks, or whatever, buzzing around and once one swooped down right in my back yard and snitched up a dove. The poor thing!

My Porch Swing hangs from the edge of my patio roof. For "seat cushions" I use 2 carpet samples. When they get yukky, I just put on new ones. The squirrels DO frolick on the swing, crawl up the chains trying to get to the bird-feeders and probably just "do their thing" because they have to. It leaves ugly, brownish stains, but--I don't care. If company comes, I just put on 2 clean carpet squares.

I do not have a veggie garden--just flower beds. The culprit on these, every year, is a rabbit or two--so I have to put up a small, plastic fencing around all my beds for the early part of Summer. That is a BIG chore, as I am a senior and all that bending is not too easy.

I agree with you on all aspects of wildlife. I even have a resident Black Snake that lives under my concrete front porch. I have only seen it ONCE! Freaked me out! But--it keeps the small rodents at bay.

I guess I am lucky to only have to deal with 4 squirrels, one rabbit (and it's progeny) and all the ravenous blackbirds. Oddly, I no longer see any Mockingbirds! I wonder why???? They used to be all over here--sitting on top of out TV antennas and singing away. No more....I don't know what has happened? Any ideas?

If you ever come to Baltimore, I live about 2 miles from White Marsh Mall in Perry Hall.

Here's a picture of the back patio. Not too great, but you will get the idea. See the swing?

Gita