Suet Feeder

Our bluebirds seem to have left for other locations. When I was cleaning up the front flower bed recently I hung out a suet block in place of the dried mealworm feeder. The block was untouched for days and days.

This morning I noticed there were dents in a few of the edges. As I sit here writing a couple sparrows have come to feed on it. One was feeding and one was on the look out. So nice that the birds look out for one another! If only we each did that more in our circle of influence. Next time I looked up they were gone and a hawk was flying over. Truly, we do not feed the smaller birds as bait for the hawk!

The hawk lives nearby and we see it frequently.

The sparrows returned soon after the hawk flew over. There is one munching and watching me type now. I think he drops as much as he eats, but I have not looked to see if there are other birds below him that are being provided for. Do not want to scare him off!

He took off on his own. There are flecks of suet all over the ground. I suppose if other birds do not get them the vole or whatever it is that lives underground in my flower bed will come up for a fattening feast. I am fairly certain the vole cannot climb the iron post the suet feeder is hanging from. Guess even the vole deserves a feast now and then? Uncertain about that as it digs tunnels through my flower beds and under the plants, etc.

Oh phooey! I just asked the internet if voles can climb poles. Well, no surprise they have been studied climbing trees (which obviously have bark to cling to). But I had no idea until I read https://blogs.agu.org/thefield/2021/03/19/why-did-the-vole-climb-the-tree/

Click the link above if you want to learn more!

A northern red-backed vole climbing down a tree. UAF photo by Todd Paris.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths
,

wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds

Psalm 148:7,10 NIV