Playing With Cicadas

I sure can hear masses of cicadas off in the distance.  It is a regular roar.

Last Saturday I was doing yardwork around two trees in the front yard and came across one live cicada under the sunburst honey locust and two by the crabapple tree in the at the northwest corner of the house.

I'm afraid I wasn't the nicest host to my visitors.

They do not move fast and are easy to catch, especially since they don't try to fly away.  The one by the sunburst honeylocust did a lot of the clicking sound you hear and I would catch it by the wings and hold it up next to my ear and listen.

Sure glad they don't bite, but their legs are quite sticky.

I came across two of them by the crabapple tree.  One clicked and the other wouldn't.

Sure Gonna Miss the Little Critters When They're Gone.  Now, Who Am I Gonna Play With?

--RoadCada

Chipmunks Running Amok 'Round Here (and in New England) and Other Yard Varmints Like Squirrels and Wascally Wabbits

I read in yesterday's Chicago Tribune that New England has so many of the lil' Alvins that they have become a nuisance.  We have a bumper crop here in northeast Illinois this year again.  I always have lots of them.  I have the Front Porch Chippers as I call them, and the Deck Chippers.

They can be a pain.  Just try slipping any flower with bulbs or tubers by them.  There is also flower pot mining to see if there is anything edible.  Fortunately, I don't think they've discovered the tulips and jonquils.

And, when they're running or chasing, watch out.  I've several scars from Chipmunk encounters of the fast kind.  I've even had ones this year and in the past who approach me demanding food.

They are lucky I like them so much or we would have serious problems.

We also have  lots of squirrels, though I haven't seen much of them this last month for some reason.  My biggest problem with them has been attacks on the roof and the Battle of the Bird Seed.  Last year, three squirrels ganged up on me and wiped out my three bird seed feeders, especially the one with their favorite, sunflower seed.  Boy they love sunflower seed.

However, that day, I vowed payback and the next day went to Menard's and got one of those feeders where the squirrel's weight closes the portals.  So far that has worked, but I have seen some of the varmints staring up at the feeder, just thinking and thinking.

And, this year I all of a sudden have three wascally wabbits running around the yard a whole lot.

We're Being Over Run!! --RoadMonk

FOX HUNTING:  Fox Mulder was an FBI agent on which TV series?


"The X-Files"

The Problem With Chipmunks

Good thing I love those furry lil' varmints or else they would be having some serious problems.  We're essentially overrun with them.  I've seen as many as four scampering about and climbing things in our back yard.

To me, they are close cousins of the wily squirrels.

You can challenge them, but you are not going to win.  Just try to keep them out of a bird feeder when they like the seed.  Ours are particularly fond of safflower and sunflower seed.  At first you could just yell at them and they'd jump off, but now I almost have to walk over to the feeder before they jump off.

Right now, though, I have one who has trained me well.  When I go out on the deck and eat peanuts in the shell, he (or she) comes up to me and impatiently waits to be fed.  They are so funny when they eat, especially when they stiff the peanut or shell in their mouth and it bulges out the sides.  I'm hoping to get him to take the peanut out of my hand one of these days.

The Little Rascals.  Yes, Boss.   --RoadDog

LIFE'S LITTLE TRUTHS:  Brain cells come and go, but fat cells are forever.

Round 2 Vs. the Squirrels Goes to the Squirrels

I shouldn't have been bragging yesterday as no sooner had I posted of my great victory over the bushy-tailed rats than I went upstairs, looked out the kitchen window and to my great chagrin, there was a gray bushy-tail feasting up on the bird feeder.

It took a lot of heavy window thumping to convince him to come down.  he then ran off and up into a tree and started watching to see what it was that had so rudely interrupted his meal.  Not seeing anything, he returned to the scene of his "crime" but took a careful walk around the area just to make sure there were no unfriendlies lurking about. He then went over to the pole and pl;aced a paw on it, but didn't climb.

Of course, I was cracking up, laughing at his prevention antics.

He then ran off.

Looks like I will have to go back to the ol' drawing board.

Dadburn Squirrels.  --RoadCan'tBeatADumbOl'SquirrelDog

Round One vs. the Squirrels Goes to Humans

In our continuing battle to keep those squirrels out of the bird feeders, we may have struck one for the human folk.

I had a two-liter pop bottle attached to the iron pole of the schoolhouse feeder (where I put squirrel favorite sunflower seed), but they just reached over it and proceeded to the feast.  On Friday, I added a big plastic planting bucket upside down and above the plastic 2-liter bottle.  It is attached by string to the top of the pole and very movable.

Saturday, Mr. Gray Squirrel came a calling, and to his dismay, found he kept falling off the new bucket.  There were several attempts made and much staring and tail-twitching and puzzled glances, as well as changing positions for better looks, but nothing came to him.

With a last mighty twitch, he ran off down the sidewalk and I haven't seen him back since.

I fill so proud of myself, but also am sure he will figure out a way to get his treats.

But, I WIN Round ONE!!  --RoadDog

Messin' With the Chipmunk

All sorts of fun out in the yard this past week.

1.  CONFUSING THE CHIPMUNK--  A week ago, i noticed that one of our chipmunks had gotten up on one of the bird feeders and was trying to lift the basket to get at the seed.  He couldn
't, but i sure enjoyed watching him/her trying.  A couple days ago, I looked out at the feeders and saw the birds perched on the iron and looking down.

There was Mr. Chipmunk up there again and this time really gorging himself.  I chased him off.

Later, I attached a cup to the main pole hanging by a string and within a minute, he was up there checking it out.  It was hilarious watching him put his head very carefully up into the cup.  I think he thought that perhaps I was trying to catch him as he never attempted to get past it.

We'll have to see if I succeeded.  I'm sure he's off somewhere thinking about it and planning.

We'll See.  --RoadDog

JSS: Snow-- Hail-- Climbing Chipmunks

JSS-- Just Some Stuff: 1. SNOW-- It has been SNOWING since about noon and we still have flurries out there. At LEAST it isn't sticking. For some reason folks 'round here really HATE SNOW nowadays. But, the grass is turning green big time, even it does receive a light covering of white stuff. //// 2. HAIL--Saturday, we had quite a hail storm which I missed because I was downstairs at a bank in the meeting room for a history meeting. Liz said our deck and driveway looked like it had snow. Some areas out here had quarter-size hail stones. //// 3. CLIMBING CHIPMUNKS-- Looked out the sunroom window this morning and saw a chipmunk running along a tree limb.. It then jumped to the limb of another tree. I'd never seen a chipmunk in a tree and had no idea they could climb. Liz looked it up and found out they can climb. //// Little Squirrels. --RoadDog