Summer has finally arrived. Lakefair starts today and I am reminded of what one of my co-workers at the Olympia Host Lions Burger Den told me two years ago when we were outside, baking in the sun, flipping hamburgers and grilling onions.
Someone had commented that they thought the crowd was smaller than usual that day and the man standing next to me replied, “It’s hot. Washingtonians will go anywhere in the rain, but when it’s hot, we stay home”.
Works for me. The older I get the more I feel the heat. And I feel for our furry friends that can’t shed their coats when everything heats up.
Apparently, the heat can affect their tempers as well. I have a bird/squirrel feeder outside my bedroom window. It is supposed to be just a bird feeder but the squirrels don’t know this.
Now the latest generation of free-range chickens has discovered the feeder so they also arrive with great regularity.
Normally these creatures, large and small, share the food quite nicely, taking turns to peck or eat as the situation calls for.
Since I do my writing in my bedroom, I am quite familiar with their behavior and enjoy sharing my mornings with them. And since there is a window between us, they tolerate my presence, if they notice me at all.
Unless…they run out of food. Then some very interesting behavior takes place if I am in the room.
My first clue begins when random birds begin banging into my window. When this started, I was concerned but realized it is just bird speak for “more bird seed, please.”
The chickens simply turn around and peck at the window.
If I do not immediately go outside with more food, the squirrels take over.
Squirrels are quite chatty, something I had not realized. They are usually delightful little creatures and fun to watch…unless the food runs out.
There is something slightly unnerving about a full-frontal squirrel leaning against your window while silently staring directly at you…which does not end until you move out of sight. Maybe I have watched Planet of the Apes too many times, but it never fails to motivate me to grab more food and run outside to deposit it in the feeder.
I have seen a bear in our front yard, just noodling around, and not felt the same emotion as I do when receiving the “Squirrel Stare” at my window.
I am beginning to think I prefer the bees and butterflies. For one thing, they feed themselves as long as the flowers bloom.
The deer family (mom, dad and two fawns) that live in our neighborhood munch happily on garden items and dandelions and move on to greener pastures when they are gone.
The wild rabbits find their way to food no matter where they are. We have tons of them, and they dash around the yard with great speed and energy, so I know they are eating something without help from me.
No malevolent stares at the window, no banging bird bodies or pecking chickens. Maybe it’s time to move the bird feeder…
Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia. Contact her at kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.
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