Flying Squirrel World

Squirrel World Update

2010-04-11T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Squirrel Entertainment Unit has been quite successful this year.

This is a picture of my work desk in a rare, sparkling clean moment.

A Sunny April morning. My amarylis in bud.

Bringer of Nuts

2010-01-25T20:48:00.000-08:00

Last night I came home and my friend the Flying Squirrel was on the red sunflower seed feeder, so I went to the door and grabbed my stash of nuts. Of course, it had been warm all day so I was not properly dressed to stand outside in the cold under the trees, holding my breath and hoping she would not run away and if she did, she would come back.
I took a handfull of nuts and placed them on the crook of a limb and initially she ran up the tree, but I guess the scent of peanuts was too strong for her.
She came back eventually....and when they move it is like lightning....she zipped around the limb and came face to face with the peanut pile.
I swear I heard another squirrel chittering from the big pine tree in the front yard...."get me a nut" or "don't you dare come back to this nest without one of those nuts".
I was able to stand there by the tree while she got two peanuts, flew to the big pine in the front yard, flew back, grabbed another nut, flew back to the pine and came back. The I was too cold...
It sounds like she moved quickly, but when you are freezing, and don't want to move, and don't want to breath and scare off your friend....it felt like forever!

I hope they realize I am a good thing...I hope they realize I am the bringer of nuts...I don't need to be worshiped but I wouldn't mind being adored.

2009-12-23T05:32:00.000-08:00

I have about ten minutes before I have to fly out the door to go to work...trying to make it last.

I am sitting in my cumfy chair in Flying Squirrel World watching a big gray squirrel harvest the peanuts I put out last night. Been working on training the FSs to come when I come outside, thinking that if they know I am bringing peanuts, they will look forward to my visits. Last night I could not coax anyone over. The night before I had two on the maple tree and one was brave enough to take a peanut, fly off, and come back at least once. I felt like she was the older one. The younger one flew off the the oak by the dirt pile and did not return. It was interesting he went off that direction where they never go...guess he was afraid.

The FSs are very patient. They can sit still on the other side of a branch for what seems like hours while I freeze - trying to stand still under the tree, not make a noise, and listen for their claws on the bark. The brave one will sit and look at me, from way above my head and stare down...I wonder what is going on in that tiny little head.

Oh dear. Zsa Zsa the cat is now leaping back and forth between the window ledge and the work table in order to see where the big gray is going with the peanuts that I put near the window. She just lept from the work table to the top of the toasterover in order tog get over to the sink window and see if she could track him. She is certainly sure footed and hardly disturbs anything on my cluttered work table.

OOooh a red squirrel is visiting! They have not been too common this year! She is so little next to the big grays.
The gray squirrels all look kind of rough...bits of tail feathers missing, scars over an eye, lumps on a thigh, patches of fur missing...like they have all been in a fight. Litte Red is so elegant in comparison.

Did I mention it is finally snowing?
It has been below freezing for a couple weeks and the other morning I drove by the harbor and the river and they are both frozen. The ice fishermen are out drilling holes and looking like marshmallow men in their winter coveralls.

OK...off to work.
Perhaps tonight the FSs will come out when I bring the peanuts. I will report later.

2009-12-14T14:42:00.000-08:00

Sitting in the dark in my kitchen chair by the window, listening to Elvis. I opened the curtain and turned off the lights in the kitchen and what did I see???? Flying squirrels hopping around the maple tree!
Those little white tummies are hard to miss and the light from the side door is just enough that they don't feel like they have a spot light on them, though, I must say, they seem quite fearless when it comes to their humans....they will run to the top of the tree and fly off but it almost seems that they are more annoyed than afraid...
They look and look at me and seem to wonder if it is worth sticking around.
Right now there is one on the red feeder, sitting there like a fat sparrow, eating, or filling his cheeks with sunflower seeds.

I love how fast they move and how they disappear once they turn their tummy completely toward the tree. Unless they move, they are completely camoflaged and when they move it looks like the bark is moving.
I have to close the lap top so I can see out, otherwise the light of the laptop blinds me and I can't see out the window.

I am going to listen to Elvis in the dark now.
:)

2009-12-13T18:55:00.000-08:00

Warmish night tonight and not too much wind. The snow is melting.

I went out with Murphy and there were two flying friends on the tree. I was on the back side of the tree with Murphy because the snow was not deep there and I had on my low muck shoes and no socks. So M did his business and when I looked up I saw two little friends looking down at us from the side of the tree.

I said, "hello...it's just me....the peanut girl...your friend...someone who loves you...no need to be afraid"

They were still looking down at me when we went back to the house.
Hope they get lots of food back to the nest.
They make me so happy.

2009-12-05T06:27:00.000-08:00

It seems we have set a record for the longest period of time between snow falls. Can't tell you the exact number of days, but for those of us who do not depend on the snow for our livelihood, it has been a welcome respite.
On 12/1/09 we had our first snow of the year and it was beautiful. All the world was outlined in white and took on a lacey look.
Murphy is quite happy with the turn of events.

I always say - Don't live here if you don't like Winter - and there is a part of me that does like winter...wouldn't want to live somewhere where there is NO winter (been there done that). But when it came time to walk on the snow again, I was anxious. My fear of falling was strong and didn't make alot of sense since I didn't fall at all last year and we had TONS of snow. I think last year set some record for the most snow fall in one period.
Of course....normal people do not want to fall....I was just very anxious about it.
But today, the snow is gone and I have no fear walking around outside.
They are predicting lots of snow this weekend, and it really is about time. And there are differing degrees of snow slipperiness...the snow you see above was highly slippery or "greasy" as people say around here. Most of the time snow is where you get more traction and it is just the ice you have to watch for.
OK...off to feed the birds and squirrels .
Happy Saturday!

2009-11-28T17:19:00.000-08:00

Had a garden party this summer
Sean and Nancy in the plateau in FSW.
Mike telling us all about it.

The other night I was outside at sunset and there were three flying squirrels tanking up at the feeders. There may have been a fourth who was too shy and hid. One came right up to me on the limb by my head and looked at me. Made me wonder if she remembered me from when I fed her peanuts from my hand.
I went to the store to get peanuts the next day and couldn't find any. Need to stop by the hardware store.
I have had alot of Flying Squirrel visits this year - and it hasn't been so cold so I could stand outside and visit for a while. Need to get the big peanuts so we can bond again.

Look What Popped Up!

2009-03-22T20:56:00.001-07:00

Look What Popped Up!
Originally uploaded by Gertibird

Mushroom in my Garden!

2009-03-22T20:46:00.001-07:00

Mushroom in my Garden!
Originally uploaded by Gertibird

My first piece of chainsaw art! A friend at work got to playing with his chain saw...Northern NY...not quite the boondocks but we do have similar interests....
My friend told me he was making mushrooms and I went over to check them out. You should have seen them in the snow...it was a riot. Since then I have been harrassing him and begging him and this Sunday - guess who shows up at my door with his two adorable boys and my mushroom???!!!
I have been giggling ever since!

Bird and Squirrel

2009-01-18T21:05:00.001-08:00

Bird and Squirrel
Originally uploaded by Gertibird

A festive addition - Post Christmas 2009

Flying Friends Return!

2008-11-19T17:47:00.000-08:00

Another fabulous night of flying squirrel sightings!
Tonight I walked out with my hubby and my Golden sweetheart Murphy. And there, in the maple tree skittered my little friend. Hubby went in, got the seed...the special seed has no shells and put a couple piles of it in the crooks of the lower limbs.
A few minutes later, in flew a beautiful flying, square, white bellied squirrel!
She headed right for the seed! I was thrilled! I hoped to teach them that I could be trusted to be the be the bringer of treats.

I stood there for a long time while she grabbed a seed and hid behind the limb; grabbed the seed and hid behind the limb. I stood very still. I stood very still for a long long time. I was quiet, quiet, quiet.
I eventually looked up and saw another white bellied friend! She was suspicious...never came down for a nibble and quickly ran up and flew away toward my neighbor's yard.
Little friend number one scurried back to the seeds. And from the other yard I began to hear a high pitched cheeeeeeep, cheeeeeeep, cheeeeeeeep, cheeeeeeeeep, cheeeeeeeeep, cheeeeeeeeep.
I would swear it was the call of a nervous Mommy calling her baby back.

What would you think if you saw an enormous dark shape was moving back and forth around the place you were gathering your groceries? And that enormous shape was breathing loudly and expelling smoke! Even if it was showering you with gifts, it would still be scarey.

I haven't gotten any new pictures. I am planning to get some peanuts and set up the squirrel entertainment facility. That is how I got some good shots and made friends with the flyers my first year with them.
Flying Squirrels make Daylight "savings" time almost worth it.
I hate the fact that it is dark at 5pm.
I hate that I get home and it is dark. I hate coming home and walking the dog in the dark.
I LOVE walking in the starlight, and we get alot of starlight here on the shores of Lake Ontario.
So not everything is bad when it turns dark.

Furry Friend on the Bungee

2008-06-13T08:02:00.001-07:00

Furry Friend on the Bungee
Originally uploaded by Gertibird

2008-04-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

Things have gone crazy in the garden. Birds are mating everywhere, the maple tree is budding these extreme undersea creature buds, and the world is warming up...85 degrees in April? That is insane! We had to turn on the A/C at one point! IN APRIL???
Well, last year we had some hot days in March then a snow storm April 14. No wonder people are obsessed with the weather up here!

Furry Friend on the Bungee

2008-04-16T17:34:00.001-07:00

Furry Friend on the Bungee
Originally uploaded by Gertibird

Sometimes they fly with the greatest of ease and sometimes they need a bungee cord.

Two Evil Ones

2008-04-04T14:31:00.001-07:00

Two Evil Ones
Originally uploaded by Gertibird

Murphy's arch-enemies, the fluffy little bunnies, were out and about enjoying a Spring breakfast. Flaunting their fluffy tails in front of poor Murphy. One even had the nerve to come over to Flying Squirrel World and enjoy some of the buffet.
This drove Murphy insane!

Busy Day

2008-03-29T22:26:00.000-07:00

Finally! A bird watching day worth writing about!!!!
We were very busy at the feeders today. It was a lovely cold, sunny day and everyone was hungry.My friend the tufted titmouse came back to the feeder and Mrs. Cardinal made a very brief appearance. I reached for my binocs and she flew away....shy of the paparazzi???

AND YES....the illusive redpoll came to my finch sock today...
Only one and only for a minute....no batteries in my camera, darn it.
He was a beauty and hung out long enough for me to get my fill with my binoculars.Flocks and flocks of red robins are down the road in the open fields. Snow geese and Canadian geese are flying noisily over head at all hours of the day and night!
And all my usual suspects are pecking away at the seed and suet in the garden.

Chipmunk sighting!! Spring is officially open in Northern New York when the chippies come back to play. She was a cutie too...filling her cheeks all day long...driving my golden retriever mad when she came up to the snow pile under the window to look for any left over peanuts.

All you darlings in the southern climates are months ahead of me, but I am learning to love this kind of Spring. The sap is running, the days are long and cool and when the snow comes down, you know it won't last for long. It is time for me to go out and rake the dead stuff out of the garden. I saw green noses poking out where the daffodils live!

Two other cool sightings of note - just because I have been so bird deprived....a cedar (bohemian?) wax-wing (my first ever) and a rough legged hawk (pretty sure). I saw them on the road to town this afternoon when I was going 55 mph.

My critter spotting skills, when driving, are legendary.

Hummingbird Nest

2008-03-18T08:34:00.001-07:00

Hummingbird Nest
Originally uploaded by Gertibird

A good while ago, a dear lady brought this in to the office for me to see. I am just now getting to posting it. This is a hummingbird nest from 1969 that she has kept and used for teaching science and nature classes. She knows I love birds and critters.
In the bottom left you can see a Robin's egg for comparison. A

Hummingbird egg must be the size of a grain of rice. The nest is only about an inch tall.

Red Head

2008-03-14T23:47:00.001-07:00

red
Originally uploaded by Gertibird

Love my friends on the feeders!
Think Spring!

Winter Feeding

2008-03-11T20:28:00.001-07:00

Took this picture last year at this time.

Winter Feeding
Originally uploaded by Gertibird

Still Seriously Winter around here, feeding the furry and feathered friends so they will be plump for Spring!

Mr. Big Stuff

2008-02-16T13:59:00.001-08:00

16 February 2008

2008-02-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

Pretty profile!

Look at the mess he made!

Are you lookin' at me?

SQUIRREL CIRCUS IS IN TOWN!!!

2008-02-11T15:47:00.000-08:00

Big Blue Thief

2008-02-10T07:36:00.000-08:00

click and see the bigger picture - he is gorgeous!

9 FEB

2008-02-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

8 FEB

2008-02-09T07:47:00.000-08:00

Main Street Angel

Mr. Red Bellied Woodpecker

Flying Squirrel World After The Fall

Summer Rosemary Sculpture

7 Feb

2008-02-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

6 February

2008-02-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

Big snow, had to drive to Syracuse. Slid off the road into a ditch at 7:00am. "Stole" a shovel from a neighbor. Made a mess in his front yard. Back on the road at 7:22am. 35mph till we got south of Pulaski.

So here I am posting a picture from an earlier snow storm this February.

I love doves because they have such tiny little brains, nothing much frightens them. The juncos and sparrows will all scatter and the doves will sit on the ground below the feeder wondering "where did everyone go?"

5 February

2008-02-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

Downy Woodpecker

4 Feb 2008 - 10 inches

2008-02-05T17:13:00.000-08:00

Flying Squirrel World at Night

2008-02-03T17:50:00.001-08:00

Flying Squirrels like the dark.

Flying Squirrel Peanut Swing

2008-02-03T17:39:00.000-08:00

Engineered by Hubby.
Manufactured by Elves.

Intro to Flying Squirrel World

2008-02-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Under Construction
Boo Boo and guys toys.
View from my seat.
A fine feathered friend.