It's been a couple of weeks now since I installed the bird feeder with the spy camera, and so far I have been visited by Black-capped chicadees, Blue jays, Downey woodpeckers, finch, sparrows, Northern cardinals, Tufted titmouses (titmice?), and White-breasted nuthatches. I am still hoping to score an elusive Eastern bluebird. The built-in AI used to identify the species is only about 95% accurate, and I catch the mis-identifications. Yesterday, I had a shocking hit on the camera, as the AI alerted me to the presence of a Bigfoot!
OK, after careful analysis, I realized the camera caught me at the feeder, as I was trying a new birdseed. Cole's Hot Meats is made from "whole-kernel sunflower meats infused with food-grade liquid habanero chili peppers and safflower oil," and is advertised as discouraging squirrels from eating this spicy fare. It states that birds don't have the receptors to "perceive capsaicin or chili heat," but the squirrels (and Bigfoot) "taste and feel the burn". We shall see.
I didn't have any squirrels visiting after I filled the feeder around 5pm last evening, but that is not really when they swarm. Yesterday afternoon, we traveled an hour away to watch our 10-year-old grandchild (Charlotte) play in her travel softball game. The squirrels were like gypsies in the palace, as they blew up my phone alert to their presence. They had their fill, as they didn't seem to mind the screeching sounds emitted from the feeder that was meant as a deterrent. Either that, or they are deaf. The more I think about it, I don't think I would be deterred from consuming a plate of smash burgers - even with a screeching horn in my ear.
I will update this blog as the story develops. I am concerned that the sunflowers infused with liquid habanero chili peppers will not deter the Bigfoot's return. My research indicates that, while Bigfoot do feel the burn, they seem to enjoy that spice with guac. on chips and chased by a couple of fish-bowl margarittas.
We usually have mated eastern bluebirds somewhere around every year. They have a unique call, and on many mornings, they'll sing early in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI have to add I've never seen a bluebird go to a feeder. They will feed on insects near a feeder, but seem more concerned with the insects that fall around the night security light.
ReplyDeleteThey are awesome looking birds. We have a friend who lives in our mid-Michigan county and she has posed pics of these bluebirds at her feeder, so I know they are around. Maybe I'll catch one at some point. It's interesting that I find the birds that are rare or infrequent visitors as being more appealing, but the chickadees are actually pretty interesting looking, and if there were rare sightings of them, I'd get more excited by there presence.
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