The Plan

The plan was to see if I could place a few peanuts on top of the feeder...thinking that the only ones who would be able to land on it would be the light-as-a-feather chickadees.

At first...it looked like it would work. Numerous chickadees showed up.

I saw Barney the squirrel approaching from the top of my garage. The first test was coming. He looked in the spot where I normally put them. Zilch. Wrapping his back claws around the base of the feeder...he "scaled" the roof of the feeder, and leaned in with his mouth to enjoy the goober peas. An amazing animal, although with his girth...he did knock over half the booty.

After Barney departed, Jay and Janie...the jays showed up. At first, they wouldn't try to land on the feeder. Made for some nice motion shots as they swooped in with their claws and beaks. Junior, the older and wiser jay...then showed up, and instructed the younger ones on how to land. They gobbled up the rest of the nuts.

The cardinal...like the chickadee...had no trouble landing on top. They usually are not interested in the peanuts, so...I'm glad they changed their lunch plans for me.

It is 32 and windy here. I am nursing my 3rd cold in the last month...so I'm glad the peanut-eaters showed up to give me an indoor shot.