One man’s continuing fight against the Gray Monsters, the Bandits of the Bird Feeder. Text translated from Old Norse by Herre Hoeg as found upon a Rune Stone in northern Minnesota.

Ya … ve tak the Coca Cola drinkin horns … string dem long da vire … da critter spind und falls. Gut! Yah?

Yup … Facebook reminded me of this battle from a post I had made seven years ago. In my infinite wisdom I thought that Diet Coke bottles strung along a metal wire would prevent squirrels from reaching my feeders. I ultimately had six bottles on either side of each feeder. It didn’t work. Read on below these two images taken by Molly of a “cocky birder” (i.e. me) who learned the battle had only just begun.

For two years after my Diet Coke failure I mistakenly believed a Yankee Flipper Bird Feeder  (link includes video of squirrel being flipped!) was the answer to my sunflower seed giveway. Alas, I was wrong once more. The Yankee Flipper has a powered centrifugal perch which upon feeling the weight of said squirrels, spins rapidly and throws the furballs off into the woods. While it lasted, It was fun watching squirrels being launched as if NASA astronauts, but eventually one squirrel learned if you anchored your tail and prevented a spin, the battery would eventually drain on cold Minnesota mornings. The other demons learned the method and the sunflower seeds were once more available!

One day my wife saw a YouTube video that incorporated Slinkies into the process. I did have to add a baffle because my local squirrels learned to climb up inside the Slinky and slither out to pay dirt. This combination works like a charm for my platform feeders that are pole mounted. (YouTube video link)

For my hanging feeders, I have ended purchasing the Squirrel Buster. These work like a charm when strung along my wires (where the Coke bottles failed). The weight of the demons close the feed openings. Birds as large as Cardinals and Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks are able to use my Squirrel Busters w/o a problem (Amazon link). What do other folks utilize? Any other “Slinky users” out there?

A quick update on my vision disorder. The first treatment was early Monday morning. My doctor told me to not expect results for seven days. However, the BOTOX which prevents the bad optic nerve communications seems to be working. For the first time in two months on Monday afternoon I was able to take a long hike late in the forest walking on deer trails and over deadfall without falling. More importantly I was able to see quite clearly. Yesterday a friend took me to look for Snowy Owls, and while we did not see any of the white ghosts, my vision was perfect for the entire 2.5 hour excursion. Read my wife’s perspective on this dive into depression we have suffered. Once again, Molly and I are not ready to declare victory, but there is finally some hope in our lives.

One final photo … surprisingly I have a flock of Mourning Doves which over winters in my pine trees … visiting my feeders multiple times per day. My research on eBird seems to indicate Duluth is about as far north as this species of bird even winters. Pic taken yesterday afternoon.

Mourning Dove

My heartfelt thanks to my buddies … Jim D. who took me to look for Snowy Owls yesterday evening … and Greg G. and Jeff M. who have scheduled birding excursions with me over the next seven days. Your generosity and friendship helps keep me moving forward in this horrible journey of lost vision.