Baby Squirrels

Update on Squirrels

Both are doing fine, released back into the neighborhood. Not in my backyard thank goodness, we have a huge number squirrels being close to the Mississippi river it's a good thing. My feeder is a circle of life, more than a few birds of prey have grabbed  a snack or two because they winter just south of us. 

The Eagles have started moving in for winter it's a bit early, so it's looking like we'll have another hard winter. Many say we have way too many squirrels and rabbits, yet every spring since we moved here the numbers of rodents are down by 2/3 without the rodents, we would lose 3/4 of the Birds of prey that winter here. Keeping both in balance and healthy so we can enjoy both. With all the dogs and cats, chasing the squirrels, rabbits and mice, it's not a easy meal for the Birds of prey the smart squirrels, rabbits and mice will live and circle continues.     

This was the baby Nacho got a hold of when it fell out of its nest 

The bigger one is the brother of the first one to fall, what a difference one day makes.  

Tiny cute little baby

Substituting for a real squirrel mommy, is very hard work energy levels I don't have. Dam m.s. for my limitations!!

Nacho's limitations didn't hold up any better than mine. When the squirrel cried Nacho came running and whined with them, if Nacho whined they started to cry out. Needless to say not much sleeping, was happening for anyone in the household. Squirrels cry so loud it can be heard outside the house with the windows shut!

Tuesday we took them to The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Where they will take good care of both them.

Meet my first rescued Squirrel "Tony" from when I was in High School.

 I named him but he wasn't a pet after he stopped living in the garage. He continued to live in the trees near our house. Tail as long as his body. 

    

Living within my changing limitations.

Is working out good for me, I'm not missing out and my life isn't dull. Finding I'm happier and healthier by not pushing past the point of what I'm capable of, because the price is too high. Learning I have more time then energy, pushing pass the pain to get a task done sooner only makes my recovery time so much longer ranging from weeks to as long as a month instead hours to a day maybe two. By doing what I'm able to knowing I'll get done what needs doing. Having stopped living on a time table I'll admit was of my own making. Kind of silly with limitations that are  changing to set time table's, when I'm not sure what I'll have to work with the next day, finding a balance isn't always easy, if I don't at least try I'll end up on a the M.S. roller coaster ride, that's hard to get off. So I have fun by being more able to do most of things I enjoy. Within the progression of M.S. and getting older, I'll push a bit too far to fast and pay for it. The difference now is I don't get back on the M.S. roller coaster, by slowing down a bit and learning what my new limitations are and begin working within them. Doing this is really helping me enjoy the little things that turn out to be the big things. The things I can't do are increasing, however what I'm able to do with what I got to work with, is growing by learning new and different ways of doing things, it will take longer I've got the time, to learn how to use the energy I have more efficiently. Makes more room for the fun stuff I love doing. Yes M.S. has slowed me down faster than just getting older has that's true enough, but it's also showed me wonders I would have never seen. Like watching a bud growing into a flower. Seeing a baby bird that failed to fly and watching as other birds bring it food showing it how to hop up into to a bush for safety at night, to seeing it take it's first flight, hearing birds seemly praise it as it flies into the tree to join them. Little things that I would have never had the time to notice, if not for M.S. my focus has changed from what has been taken from me, to all I've gained in spite of what M.S. and aging have taken from me. So far life been a learning experience of all I don't know and trust me that's a heck of a lot! Are all the things I've learned important Nope most just make me smile.

It's not about what I can't do anymore

It's about what I'm able to do with what I have to work with

Before I end yes, there always is a balance of good verses bad and light and dark. For  me I take the lessons learned from both and find my balance. 

     

A new view from my window to the world.

 This winter I’m getting a larger variety of birds, at the bird feeders outside my window to the world. Until this winter it’s mostly been a variety of Swallows, Sparrows with only a few House Finch and Wren. This year now includes a larger variety of birds getting more of the wary, timid and nervous ones like a variety of woodpeckers, warblers, indigo bunting and more…

          The most fun have been the woodpeckers, maybe it’s because I’m learning more about them, that if having seen it myself not sure I would have believed it, as a red-bellied woodpecker put a seed into a spot of the tree bark. Not once but many times going back and forth from seed cake feeder to the tree. Her mate didn’t do this he came eat his fill and left, like some not all of men I known.

          Since all the new kinds of birds have come, I've been trying to get pictures of them that so far I haven’t had much luck they're such wary and nervous bird's they fly away or maybe their camera shy either way, here are the only two shots that have worked so far.

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Female

Hairy Woodpecker
Male

The squirrels on the other hand are posing for me and if the seed cake feeders are empty they sit on top making noise letting me know it! As for cleaning up the ground when the birds and squirrels are gone one crow comes by and takes care of that. Haven’t seen a hawk for a while, however have seen the unmistakable evidence that it’s been by for a snack.

Now these two are on different feeders, all three are from the last litter of squirrels born in the first part of October. Really didn't think these little guys' would make it. Thank goodness for a very mild winter and my feeding them, all have a nice layer of fat to keep them warm

They each have their own personality and still chase each other around the tree. The birds and squirrels put on a pretty good show, on the corner there is a movie theater and people will stop and watch I've heard some of the children ask if they can pet the squirrels a few parents, said sure if they'll let you! First step on the grass and away they all go squirrels up the tree and birds fly to the roof. It's all just good fun for everyone. 

Have been told that I shouldn't feed the squirrels! I tell them why not do you want the hawk's to eat your cat? The squirrel population is well controlled, by the hawk's that winter here. In spring when the eagles and hawk's start moving north it's all as it should be in the end. So we end up with more eagle's and hawk's then squirrel's.

So all is right with my little spot in the world.