Since I moved into my home nine years ago, I’ve had squirrels.  My property backs up to a wooded area that borders several properties so I’ve had my fair share.  When I started birding seven years ago I decided that I would feed them as well.  Since I employ a raccoon baffle on my main feeder station and squirrel baffles on my bluebird houses, I wasn’t concerned about my back yard becoming overly popular.  I have a corncob feeder and squirrel box on my back fence and a squngee hanging from one of my smaller trees.  There was an initial learning curve for them to learn and trust these feeders but with a mixture of adults and children back there the knowledge was acquired.  Whether it took an adult to learn and show a little one or the little ones just happened on it by being nosey, it did happen.

This is no longer the case.

I’ve noticed this spring that most of the adults I’ve come to recognize are no longer in my back yard.  I don’t know if the older ones died, were killed by cars, or moved on to another area but there is a definite lack of adult supervision.  I pretty much have pre-schoolers and at most junior high level squirrels back there.  My squirrel box has not been eaten from in months.  The other feeders seem to be getting used.

What I’ve Tried With My Squirrel Box

I’ve unsnapped it from the fence and put it on the ground.  The squirrels go in it and get food to their heart’s desire.  When I put it back up, they stop trying.

I’ve refused to put food on the other feeders and stopped tossing even occasional peanuts on my patio.  They’ve dug up every nut and piece of food they can remember where they buried and leave the box alone.

I did the above and changed the squirrel box food from the normal squirrel mix to nothing but hulled peanuts.  They sniffed the hell out of it but did not try to go in.

As you can tell, I’m a little miffed because the last thing I have ever expected to have to do is train squirrels to use my feeders.

Have You Had This Problem?

Do you have any suggestions that I might try to get them to start using the squirrel box?  My main reason is if they’re not using it they are wandering around looking for stuff to eat where they shouldn’t be.  I’ve had no problems ever feeding my birds with squirrels in my back yard but my mourning doves are getting pissed at me and my goldfinches, titmice and chickadees are tired of waiting until late afternoon for me to put my sunflower chip chickadee window feeder up.  I know I can change to safflower for the patio but I’ve enjoyed the wider assortment of birds the no mess patio mix brings.

Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think I should do and I’ll let you know if I have any progress.

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Do You Train Your Squirrels?

First Look

The majority of birders who do photography will know Vanguard for their photographic accessories like stands, tripods and cases. Vanguard also manufactures a full line of sporting optics, including binoculars, spotting scopes and monoculars. Recently, the company has stepped up its optics line, putting an emphasis on innovation, while maintaining affordable retail prices. The Endeavor EDs are the top of Vanguard’s lines of binoculars and have features comparable to other brands costing much more.

Focus On Features

The first thing you’ll notice about the Vanguard® Endeavor ED 8.5×45 mm Binoculars is how easy they are to hold. Well balanced with a large focus adjustment wheel, ergonomic finger rest and a texturized soft rubber exterior to make finding and focusing on a target quick and easy. The Endeavor EDs have a wide view angle, exceptional image and color quality due to the use of ED glass, BaK4 roof prisms and special lens coatings. They have a 3-stop eyecup adjustment, position locking diopter ring and tripod adapter. They are also nitrogen-charged and o-ring sealed to be fogproof and waterproof. They come with a carrying bag and a wide neck strap.

The Big Picture

I was very impressed with the feel and image quality of these binoculars. Especially when the viewed subject requires you to face nearly into the sun. You won’t have any trouble either focusing or getting beautiful colors in that situation or ever. Plus, they are rigorously tested including submerging in 36 inches of water for 30 minutes and then thoroughly re-tested. How many of us have ruined binoculars by dropping them in water?

The only thing I would recommend when you purchase these is while the carrying bag and strap should be adequate for the amateur birder, I would recommend purchasing a binocular harness like the Vanguard Optic Guard Harness.

You Might Also Consider

Affiliate Disclaimer

I received a review pair of these binoculars from Vanguard. The link I use in this review is to Amazon.com and I will receive a commission if you purchase using that link.

This does not mean that I recommend products I don’t believe in. I have not agreed to recommend a product just to receive a free product. To their credit, Vanguard provides these review products with no strings attached.

Please see our Affiliate Disclosure page for more details.

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Vanguard Endeavor ED 8545 Review

Authors: Lars Svensson, Killian Millarney and Dan Zetterstrom

Published By: Princeton University Press, 2010, 448 pgs

When I received my review copy of this book I was a little hesitant because I didn’t know the size of my overseas readership and I couldn’t see how this would help my North American readers.  I was mistaken to say the least.

Great Graphics and Data

For each entry in this field guide the authors list:

• An overview section that briefly touches on their size, range and other species they are known to flock or travel with.
• A complete identification section that talks about their markings and how to tell them apart from other species they can be mistaken for.
• A voice section that gives the unique characteristics of their vocalizations and how they can be discerned from other similar species.
• Beautiful illustrations that show the birds in different situations like standing, sitting, pecking and flying so you can see all of the markings clearly.
• Map range graphics showing the areas they inhabit at different times of the year.

What I Liked

As with any great field guide, this one includes a comprehensive guide to using it with clear explanations of terminology and legends.  It is a guide that can be used by a novice or experienced birder depending on the level of data one requires.

Even though this is a guide to the birds of Europe, there are sections at the back of the book dealing with Vagrants, Accidentals and Introduced and Escaped species that should also be of interest to North American birders.

What I Didn’t Like

Novices may find this a great guide for learning but may be overwhelmed with the volume of data early in their careers.  For them, this book would serve as a great reference once out of the field but the initial identifications for them could be better made with a smaller, more compact and shorter field guide.

The only other complaint I had is one every 40+ birder has with field guides: in order to chock it full of so much information, the type has to be really small.  If you need reading glasses, you better take them with you into the field.

Overall Rating

I give this guide a 4.5 out of 5 rating because of the quality of the information and presentation.  I would wholeheartedly recommend picking up a copy of Birds of Europe.

Affiliate Disclaimer

I received a review copy of this field guide from the Princeton University Press.  The link I use in this review is to Amazon.com and I will receive a commission if you purchase using that link.

This does not mean that I recommend products I don’t believe in.  I have not agreed to recommend a product just to receive a free copy of it.  To their credit, Princeton University Press provides these review copies with no strings attached.

Please see our Affiliate Disclosure page for more details.

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Birds Of Europe Field Guide Review

First Time In Four Years

As I have mentioned before in my Dark Legacy post, for the last four years or so I have had a bluebird pair with some type of genetic defect.  This theory was backed up when Julie Zickefoose suggested I crack open an unhatched egg and confirm there was no viable chick in it. They would build a nest in my box, lay eggs and then the heartbreak began.  Without predation, some of each clutch of eggs would just not hatch.  Then, of the two or three that did, only one and rarely two would actually fledge.

I have been careful to completely clean out the box each time between clutches of eggs but the pattern continued.

All that changed this year.

For the first time since this saga continued I had five eggs that all hatched and fledged from the nest.  I am ecstatic over this.  I can only conclude that one of the pair must have died and was replaced by a healthy bird.

Like I’ve said before, it’s not that I don’t appreciate having any bluebirds in my backyard.  It took me three years before that even happened.  I just want to make sure that I’m helping them increase their numbers by actively discouraging competing birds and seeing large clutches of eggs hatch and fledge.

How Are Your Boxes Doing This Year?

Leave me a comment below and let me know if you’re having success with your nesting boxes this year or if you’ve had a similar experience.

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A Landmark Bluebird Achievement

Update 4/20/10: There are now 5 eggs in the nest.  I’ll be watching the nest closely over the next week to 10 days to make sure they all hatch.  Hatching has been a problem with the previous clutches as well as surviving to fledge the nest.

I’ll keep you posted.

After seeing a flurry of activity in the nest box closest to my house, I took a peek yesterday and saw that the bluebirds have built a fine nest.  Curiously, the downy woodpecker that’s been using it as an overnight roost is still going in there every night.

Talk about living dangerously!

I’m sure that will all change once she gets any eggs in the box.

I’ll keep you posted and see if I can’t get a picture of the full nest box once she’s laid her eggs in it.

I really hope it’s not the exact same couple that has been returning every year that have been so unsuccessful at increasing their numbers.

Have your bluebirds or chickadees selected their nest boxes yet?  Leave me a comment below and tell me about it.

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My Bluebirds Have Made A Nest