Mr. Squirrel is back



Soon after building a home some twenty five years ago, I planted a lot of trees around it. I began putting out some bird seed and bread etc. to attract the birds. Along with the birds came the squirrels and I discovered they like precisely the same food as the birds. A few of the squirrels became friends and I gave them silly sounding names which to the squirrels must have sounded quite proper and dignified. The squirrels would take bread pieces from my hands.

Then around twelve years ago a brood of cats moved into the area. They were great for finishing up rats that inhabited the area from before the homes were built but unfortunately they wiped out the squirrels too. The birds have continued to live because most are much too smart for the cats; a black bird even teases them by hopping around in front of them. As a result the home is surrounded by bird songs all day, every day during daylight hours.

I have not seen a squirrel here for about ten years now but today morning I was pleasantly surprised to see one feeding from a tray hung up for the birds on a silver oak tree. Over the last years the cats have reduced in the locality either because they have moved away or been caught by the dogs. The squirrel has not yet become friends and climbed up the tree when I drew close to snap a picture but I managed a shot from a distance. Can you spot it in the picture friends?

Being a spiritual sort of person that tries to commune with Nature often, I take any unexpected events as a sign from nature, a way of communicating with you but as yet I have not completely deciphered this message.

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