In Praise of Squirrels - and a Few Birds Too

      Just yesterday I was looking at squirrels gambolling in my backyard, chasing each other, running along branches at breakneck speed and generally creating mayhem among the birds, and it struck me that they are a daily part of my life.

     They are capable of driving me slightly crazy, but I nevertheless have a great deal of respect for them, and at times affection. In those rare moments of hubris when I might feel smart, they quickly disabuse me of that notion, as they thwart my every attempt to keep them off my bird feeders.

     There are three species that are common here and I will deal with them in different posts. Here is my first episode.

Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

     This is the most common species and the cheekiest of the three.

     In fact, although it is called grey squirrel, there are two colour morphs at this latitude; the "regular" grey -

     - and the black.

     As you may see, they sometimes have a fair amount of red in their pelage.

     Occasionally, an individual has a completely red tail.

     It is a tolerant species, with several adults feeding alongside each other, and sharing the same drey in the winter. 

     Their diet varies with the season, but consists mainly of fruit, berries, seeds; acorns are especially favoured. They also take some insect prey, and I have seen them eating caterpillars. Given the chance they will raid a bird's nest and consume the eggs.

     In turn, they are hunted by a variety of predators including weasels, American Mink (Mustela vison), foxes, coyotes, raccoons and raptorial birds. A squirrel out late may become the prey of Great Horned Owl (Bubo virgianus).

     Like all mammals, Eastern Grey Squirrel  is afflicted by parasites such as fleas, mites and ticks. The larva of the Botfly Warble (family Oestridae) lodges in the groin and is severely debilitating.

     Even though they may do this -

     - at heart, we welcome them anyway.

     I'll go and say "Hello" to them right now. They are sure to be there, waiting expectantly for me to go and fill my feeders, anxious to feast on the spillage. I'll be glad to see them.

      After all they are pretty damn cute!

17 November, 2022

Meanderings.....

     A stray cat, whether feral or visiting from a nearby residence I am not sure, does not auger well for small songbirds as it lies in wait.

     We shoo it away of course but it no doubt returns the moment we have turned our backs. I hope this Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) does not fall victim to the cat.

     Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) seems exceptionally abundant this year, both in my backyard and around the countryside.

     It is always a joy to see them. No less so, the ubiquitous Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), a true bringer of joy.

     Winter is tightening its grip on southern Ontario and the trees are already bearing a mantle of snow.

     A male Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) busied himself with building up his winter storage.

     A flock of Mallards (Anas platyrynchos), initially far down the river, swam against the current to pay us a visit.

     We saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) taking seed from a feeder at a farm house we passed.

     This species too was concerned with caching food for the winter, and had found a convenient location in the crumbling masonry of the old farmhouse.

     Fertile farmland is at repose for the winter months.

     Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are common here in the winter. No doubt this individual was on the hunt for an unwary field mouse or vole, or a squirrel too brash for its own good.

     We could barely turn our heads without seeing a chickadee.

     And where there were chickadees there were juncos.

    

     A female Downy Woodpecker hitched her way up a stump, seed at the ready, looking for for a convenient hiding place.

     White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) have generally moved out of our area by the second half of November.

     Migration patterns are changing all over, however; perhaps this individual is set to spend the winter here. We will check to see if we can find it again when we are next in the area.

Trivia

     A local church has a Wednesday programme featuring a lunch and a guest speaker, and I have made presentations there many times.

     At one such event a fellow stood up, an old-timer I might add, and remarked, "I've always wondered - how do birds actually 'do it'?"

     Perhaps you too have wondered. Wonder no more - I am about to explain! If you are prone to blushing, or even a little prurient, read on anyway; rest assured no one will know you read this!

     Most bird species are not equipped with the kind of apparatus we think of in humans or other animals. Generally they lack external genitalia and both sexes possess a cloaca, which swells to form a cloacal protuberance, the male mounts the female and presses his cloaca against hers, transferring sperm. It is a tricky business, the female has to lift her tail, the male has to slip his tail under hers, all the while perched precariously on her back. There is always the danger of slipping off so the whole deed is accomplished in a matter of seconds. There are exceptions to the duration of the "cloacal kiss" as it is euphemistically termed, but generally it is the very essence of speed and efficiency, It perhaps imparts a whole new light on the expression, "Slam bam, thank you ma'am!"

     As stated most birds do not possess external genitalia but there are exceptions. Many male ducks are equipped with impressive intromittent penises, very long, sometimes corkscrew shaped, and some ratites like ostriches and tinamous, having inserted their long penises, dismount and walk around bobbing their head and displaying their penis.

     Guys have always been prone to bragging, but this takes it to a whole new level!