The Tempest: The Battle Begins…

Friday, January 2, 2026

The Battle Begins…

So, I got Pam the BirdBuddy for Christmas. We’ve had the same bird feeder on our deck for the past fifteen years or so and we love it because squirrels cannot get to the birdseed no matter how hard they try, often with hilarious results. This new fangled solar powered gizmo has the advantage of being connected to the internet and comes equipped with a camera and microphone which captures up close and personal photographs of the little guys. She hung this thing after dark last night and this morning we were notified by the device that we had our first customer who is pictured above. When he first landed he gave it many side eyes, making sure it wasn’t some sort of sadistic trap, but once satisfied of its benign intent, began engorging himself with not one but seven seeds before flying off.

But there’s a problem. I can see it plain as day. What I can’t believe is that the manufacturers of the BirdBuddy didn’t notice. This thing might as well have a giant sign hanging off it screaming—All Squirrels Welcomed Here!! It might as well have been named SquirrelBuddy.

I am now on the horns of a dilemma. Should I try to rig up some kind of anti-squirrel contraption to add to the thing ala Wiley Coyote? Or do I rely on my trusty BB gun to punish any tree rat who comes near? I mean thats all well and good but I can’t sit upstairs at the back window all day like that sniper in the church tower in Saving Private Ryan, quoting scripture while picking them off one by one. I’ve got a life to live. But the thought that a tribe of filthy squirrels will be feasting on the ill-designed BirdBuddy, robbing our beautiful birds of their rightful rewards infuriates me.

I will keep you all posted on developements in what I’m sure will be the ongoing battle of 2026.

2 comments:

Jayne Rechenbach SmithJanuary 2, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Doug, you need to head over to yard Birds at Gayton SC. You purchase a pole that connects with the provided pole mount (on bottom of feeder or in the box the feeder came in) and you purchase the bullet baffle. Make sure baffle installed on the poleis no less than a few inches from the bottom of the feeder. Then make sure the area of your yard where you wish to locate the feeder is NO LESS THAN 5-6 feet from bushes, railings, trees, window sills, house, etc. (any spot from which the squirrel can jump onto the feeder or pole). Sit back and watch the squirrel try to get to the feeder. You will be amused. While at Yard Birds, pick up a bag of dried meal worms and a bag of the sunflower chips. Your bluebirds and cardinals will be constant visitors. I have had my BB for over 4 years. I have the hummingbird feeder as well. Never had a squirrel attack. They have tried-but they have failed hahahahaha. (I can send you a photo of my set up if you want, but take the bird buddy with you to YB and they will set you up.)
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Doug DunnevantJanuary 2, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Sounds good. Thanks Jayne!!
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