Evening star., 1949-02-24
This and That
By Charles E. Trdce1Ueu

Efforts to construct Squirrel-proof bird
feeding stations go on endlessly.
The latest said to be the real thing" Is
one made from six-foot section of house
guttering.
The section. about inches in diameter,
with length of feet has rolled edge,
and is blocked at both ends.
This long feeding station is fixed on q
three-foot iron rod, held to the underside
OF the center of the gutter with steel braces.
The entire affair is mounted on 20-foot-
long by 4.
This brings the station to the second floor.
1t is SO placed that the owner may replen-
lsh it by leaning out his window.
The station is long enough to accommo-
date scores of birds at time
1t is claimed that squirrels even if they
climb the pole, are not able to leap up the
long rod and hold onto the gutter.
The rolled edge causes them to Slip
Those who have seen this affair assert
that no squirrel has ever made it yet, though
some have even tried to leap from the roof.
Silver Spring squirrels, then, must lack
ingenuity.
Over our way, some rodent would make it
in "a hours. and by the time two days had
passed the six feet of guttering would be
fairly filled with squirrels, their tails hang
ing over at all angles.
The advantages of such a long feeding
device are many
Seeds are placed in one end, suet and
raislns IN the other.
In the center there is a watering device.
1t is also said for this home made device
that it repells pigeons
With these two, squirrels and pigeons, kept
out, the feeding bills are cut materially.
Everyone who has put out food consistently
and for long time knows how much the
squirrels and pigeons eat.
Both are hungry in the cold, it must be
admitted. No true friend of animals would
want to deny these food, but sometimes even
the kindeSt person must wish they would not
eat so heartily
1t is true that squirrels do not waste food
as is sometimes charged. What they do is
push certain seeds and grains they do not
like off onto the ground, but there it is eaten
oy small birds. So nothing, in the end goes
to waste.
The feeding station however that man.
ages to keep both squirrels and pigeons out,
WILL DO much to reduce the food bills
The most consistently tried device to keen
squirrels out of stations is the inverted funnel
of tin.
This is placed, large side down. on the
underside of the feeder. around the pipe
which holds it in the air.
Many persons have claimed success with
this; others say their squirrels at last manage
to circumvent it, often by climbing trees and
leaping down. CHence it is a good idea, If
feasible, to place the station out from under
the shade of tree0
There was one feeding station which was
built on the principle that 1t would close up
when a heavier than usual bird or animal
reached the RIM
Other ardent bird feeders feel that it is
rather waste of time to try to keep any
creature out, that in the end they usually
manage to eat, so what is the use trying
to keep them away?
There is distinct cleavage of opinion
here, as in many other matters. It seems as
If the world of men, whether in major or
minor matters, is about divided $3.50; for
every person who advocates one thing, you
will find another who plumps for just the
opposite. Maybe this is good thing, but at
times one grows slightly tired of so much
disputation. and longs for the return of the
old days when most intelligent people agreed
On most things.