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My wife set up a bird feeder on our floor to ceiling glass windows in our living room -- it is a plexiglass module with suction cups. It was nice seeing the bir

My wife set up a bird feeder on our floor to ceiling glass windows in our living room -- it is a plexiglass module with suction cups. It was nice seeing the birds, but it was really entertaining watching the squirrels trying to get the food. At first she tried to thwart the them, but in no time started recognizing the squirrels as individuals and noticing their personality and behavioral differences, and gave them names. After that, she stopped buying birdseed and began stocking the feeder with various nuts, and setting up some ramps and jumping obstacles, but not to any crazy level, just something to watch. They recognized her as the person that fills the feeder with nuts. Once she tried hand feeding them it took only a couple weeks for the first brave one, then other squirrels didn't want to be left out and came up to her too. When the feeder goes empty, they'll stand on it and peer into the living room to see if she is around. Once they make eye contact, they hop down and run to the door to get fed. My wife has some chronic health issues that mostly keep her housebound, except for doctor appointments. The squirrels have been a godsend -- even on her worst days, the squirrels make her smile and bring her joy at random times throughout the day.

geocrasher 4y ago
This is just wonderful. I'm so glad that your wife has something to keep her going on her bad days. My wife passed away at 46 years old, and the years leading up to her death were very hard. I learned that sometimes it's the smallest things that really bring joy- not things. Interacting with nature whether by observation or active participation is a wonderful thing.
- austinjp 4y ago
  A comment like this shouldn't go without a reply. Saying "sorry for your loss" always seems inadequate, so here's a brief recollection instead. A few months ago, in one of the covid lock downs when social distancing was a thing, I was walking in a park. About 200 metres away I noticed a woman walking a small dog, possibly a puppy. The woman had stopped to watch the dog, something was going on. Then i realised the dog was playing with a magpie. The magpie would hop up to the dog then flap off when the dog bounded over. Then the magpie lay on its back and let the dog sniff it before kicking its legs and flapping its wings, making the dog bounce in delight. The woman crouched nearby watching. I've no idea if any of them noticed me. It went on for at least 5 minutes before i had to leave. A wonderfully surreal, poignant moment during the pandemic. Seems like aeons ago now.
- nick__m 4y ago
  How did you cope with the loss ? My wife has one metastasis on a vertebrae from a breast cancer that I tought defeated... it was almost the fourth year of cancer free scans when we had the terrible news, a month ago. Even though she's is on expensive drugs and will receive bleeding edge radio surgery in January... I fear that we don't have that much time left together and I don't know how I will cope with that loss.
  - geocrasher 4y ago
    Oh man, I am so, so terribly sorry to hear this. You both must be absolutely devastated, both individually and as a couple. Clear open communication, just listening to each other, and accepting that you're both grieving for the loss of her health and for the awful effects it is bound to have. My wife was sick for several years before she passed, and for the last 14 months, we knew it was coming. The main thing that got us both through the ordeal was finding joy in everyday life, wherever we could. My wife was amazing at that, and that had a lot to do with her faith too. I'd be remiss to leave that out. That's also been my coping mechanism in almost every way. But it's not a blind faith that she "went to a better place" or just listening to what some pastor says. My faith is fully informed, and I've chosen it after deep Bible study. I know that may not be the answer you're looking for, but it's the truth. Without my faith I'd have been wrecked. It was hard enough as-is, but the religious organization I belong to has excellent written articles as well as videos that have gotten me through some really, really rough times... the kind you don't know even exist until yougo through them. Foremost however is my relationship with the true God. He has helped me immensely and brought tremendous relief. This isn't a platform for proselytizing, and I respect that, so I've limited my answer to an honest answer to your question. There are resources that I'd love to share with you that will help you even from a secular standpoint. If you'd like, email me at my hn user at gmail. Take care, my friend. You're welcome to reach out to me any time.
ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
You might enjoy this story, then: https://www.countryliving.com/life/a32668694/former-nasa-engineer-built-obstacle-course-for-squirrels/ https://www.countryliving.com/life/a32668694/former-nasa-eng...
Zak 4y ago
She might enjoy Mark Rober's squirrel obstacle course series on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgeXOVaJo_gl1ZIpbYyPRXzQner7-5j5k https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgeXOVaJo_gl1ZIpbYyPR...
zdragnar 4y ago
> They recognized her as the person that fills the feeder Even songbirds do this with my parents. If they're outside and the feeder is empty, they'll perch on the closest (but not too close) spot and squack until my parents move, then they'll perch a little closer to the feeder and repeat if my parents follow them. If they're not outside, they'll sit outside the door or even fly into the garage if it is open and chirp and squack until they come out. It's amusing and more than a little impressive to see since songbirds aren't much associated with intelligence like corvids are.
sound1 4y ago
Loved it! Hope she gets better soon bro!
kstenerud 4y ago
Reminds me of the Twirl-A-Squirrel bird feeder. It usually works, but sometimes there are some VERY tenacious squirrels! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgDa_cpgHWs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgDa_cpgHWs
- dtgriscom 4y ago
  My parents had one of those near a window. The squirrel would jump on and go for a ride, banging against the window (leaving the most entertaining skid marks). The payoff: this would shake seeds out of the feeder which the squirrel could then eat off of the ground.
Jarwain 4y ago
I'm glad these squirrels bring joy to your wife c: This reminds me of my University days, where peeps would go and eat under large banyan trees. There would be a number of squirrels who'd hang out and be fed by students, and as a result these squirrels would get gutsy. A friend had a squirrel leap onto their table and steal fries while they weren't looking!
nick__m 4y ago
Thank! I used to try fight the squirrels with cayenne pepper (birds don't have receptor that can be activated by capsaicin)... I should try to befriend them instead.
spiffytech 4y ago
My friend who does this warns to be careful - if you stop feeding them, you've taught them there's food in the house, and they will find a way to break in.
bothandeach 4y ago
Bless her, and you

geocrasher 4y ago

This is just wonderful. I'm so glad that your wife has something to keep her going on her bad days. My wife passed away at 46 years old, and the years leading up to her death were very hard. I learned that sometimes it's the smallest things that really bring joy- not things. Interacting with nature whether by observation or active participation is a wonderful thing.

austinjp 4y ago
A comment like this shouldn't go without a reply. Saying "sorry for your loss" always seems inadequate, so here's a brief recollection instead. A few months ago, in one of the covid lock downs when social distancing was a thing, I was walking in a park. About 200 metres away I noticed a woman walking a small dog, possibly a puppy. The woman had stopped to watch the dog, something was going on. Then i realised the dog was playing with a magpie. The magpie would hop up to the dog then flap off when the dog bounded over. Then the magpie lay on its back and let the dog sniff it before kicking its legs and flapping its wings, making the dog bounce in delight. The woman crouched nearby watching. I've no idea if any of them noticed me. It went on for at least 5 minutes before i had to leave. A wonderfully surreal, poignant moment during the pandemic. Seems like aeons ago now.
nick__m 4y ago
How did you cope with the loss ? My wife has one metastasis on a vertebrae from a breast cancer that I tought defeated... it was almost the fourth year of cancer free scans when we had the terrible news, a month ago. Even though she's is on expensive drugs and will receive bleeding edge radio surgery in January... I fear that we don't have that much time left together and I don't know how I will cope with that loss.
- geocrasher 4y ago
  Oh man, I am so, so terribly sorry to hear this. You both must be absolutely devastated, both individually and as a couple. Clear open communication, just listening to each other, and accepting that you're both grieving for the loss of her health and for the awful effects it is bound to have. My wife was sick for several years before she passed, and for the last 14 months, we knew it was coming. The main thing that got us both through the ordeal was finding joy in everyday life, wherever we could. My wife was amazing at that, and that had a lot to do with her faith too. I'd be remiss to leave that out. That's also been my coping mechanism in almost every way. But it's not a blind faith that she "went to a better place" or just listening to what some pastor says. My faith is fully informed, and I've chosen it after deep Bible study. I know that may not be the answer you're looking for, but it's the truth. Without my faith I'd have been wrecked. It was hard enough as-is, but the religious organization I belong to has excellent written articles as well as videos that have gotten me through some really, really rough times... the kind you don't know even exist until yougo through them. Foremost however is my relationship with the true God. He has helped me immensely and brought tremendous relief. This isn't a platform for proselytizing, and I respect that, so I've limited my answer to an honest answer to your question. There are resources that I'd love to share with you that will help you even from a secular standpoint. If you'd like, email me at my hn user at gmail. Take care, my friend. You're welcome to reach out to me any time.

ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago

You might enjoy this story, then: https://www.countryliving.com/life/a32668694/former-nasa-engineer-built-obstacle-course-for-squirrels/ https://www.countryliving.com/life/a32668694/former-nasa-eng...

Zak 4y ago

She might enjoy Mark Rober's squirrel obstacle course series on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgeXOVaJo_gl1ZIpbYyPRXzQner7-5j5k https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgeXOVaJo_gl1ZIpbYyPR...

zdragnar 4y ago

> They recognized her as the person that fills the feeder Even songbirds do this with my parents. If they're outside and the feeder is empty, they'll perch on the closest (but not too close) spot and squack until my parents move, then they'll perch a little closer to the feeder and repeat if my parents follow them. If they're not outside, they'll sit outside the door or even fly into the garage if it is open and chirp and squack until they come out. It's amusing and more than a little impressive to see since songbirds aren't much associated with intelligence like corvids are.

sound1 4y ago

Loved it! Hope she gets better soon bro!

kstenerud 4y ago

Reminds me of the Twirl-A-Squirrel bird feeder. It usually works, but sometimes there are some VERY tenacious squirrels! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgDa_cpgHWs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgDa_cpgHWs

dtgriscom 4y ago
My parents had one of those near a window. The squirrel would jump on and go for a ride, banging against the window (leaving the most entertaining skid marks). The payoff: this would shake seeds out of the feeder which the squirrel could then eat off of the ground.

Jarwain 4y ago

I'm glad these squirrels bring joy to your wife c: This reminds me of my University days, where peeps would go and eat under large banyan trees. There would be a number of squirrels who'd hang out and be fed by students, and as a result these squirrels would get gutsy. A friend had a squirrel leap onto their table and steal fries while they weren't looking!

nick__m 4y ago

Thank! I used to try fight the squirrels with cayenne pepper (birds don't have receptor that can be activated by capsaicin)... I should try to befriend them instead.

spiffytech 4y ago

My friend who does this warns to be careful - if you stop feeding them, you've taught them there's food in the house, and they will find a way to break in.

bothandeach 4y ago

Bless her, and you