For the Birds

I’m gonna tell ya’ll a little story.

All my life, I’ve liked having a bird feeder. (No, not just since I turned 50. Some of us folks have been into birds all our lives.)

Anyway, I like birds. Happy chirping little busy things.

I’ll be the first to admit, there is some cost to having birds around. The food isn’t always cheap. And you have to clean the feeders and fill them back up when they’re empty. But I like having the teeny creatures in my yard, when I can.

((Bird flu is a problem nowadays, so having a feeder is discouraged ‘cause they flock around it and spread the illness. That’s why I say “when I can”.))

As anyone who is into birds knows, pretty quickly the issue of squirrels will come up. They do love raiding a good bird feeder. I will freely admit squirrels can clear a feeder out super fast.

Does it bother me?

Sometimes.

I switched to a supposedly squirrel proof feeder for my bird seed. I’ve left the suet cake feeders alone.

In my more pessimistic moods, I look out at my yard and think “I put that food out for the birds. No one else.”

When I catch myself having those kind of thoughts, I get really aggravated.

As a provider, and someone who, from a bird or squirrel’s point of view, has unlimited bounty, my generosity should extend to everyone, not just my chosen favorites. Why should I prefer the birds over the squirrels when the latter have never done me any harm?

Is it because they are greedy? Maybe that just means they are hungrier. Or, they are wisely stocking up on food for future use. I don’t know and can’t possibly understand all of their circumstances. Their squirrel world is alien to me.

In which case, I shouldn’t judge.

By using a squirrel proof feeder, I’ve taken reasonable steps to make sure the food goes to all those who need it. If one or two squirrels “abuse the system”, I’m not going to try to drive them away. Or kill them. Or take down the feeders.

I’ll simply be glad that the world is a less hungry place.