This is a somewhat longer clip than I normally post: 10 minutes of feeding captured over the course of about an hour this afternoon in video, rather than the webcams. It has almost everything - suspense, action, acrobatics, fight scene, romance … well OK, I lied about the last one; maybe in the sequel?

This post, as well as the picture and video from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 Lots of Feeding Fun, 11-29-06 [10:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

As far as I can tell, this squirrel has been in this feeder for almost a whole day - at least, he’s been there every time I’ve looked out or looked on the cams this afternoon. And he’s territorial about it too, I watched him chase another squirrel off across the whole tree when it attempted to share the feeder with him. No wonder I’m having to fill this feeder every day!

Meanwhile, yesterdays bag of nuts lasted less than a day so I’ve put out a new one, suitably improved thanks to Abi’s suggestion.

This post and the pictures from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

This post and the pictures from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

This post and the picture from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

Pssst… other side, idiot!!

This post and the picture from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

I put the pillow feeder back up today, now on the restored Camera 1. I had to dash out, but before leaving, I came back into the house to take a quick look and make sure the camera was pointed in the right direction - and there was already a squirrel on the feeder! So I only had time to grab this quick clip but here’s the first squirrel of the day making the first hole in the bag and helping himself to the first nut. No doubt there will be more holes and a lot less nuts by this time tomorrow. I am leaving the trough birdfeeder on camera 4 as it’s also very popular with the squirrels and you can often see one on there, but the tray feeder is temporarily not on display as camera 7 is down until I feel like persuading Windows to recognise the drivers again.

This post, as well as the picture and video from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 First nut, 11-27-06 [0:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

A very happy thanksgiving to my viewers (both of you)
Ok now we’ve got that out of the way … there has been a load of activity in the yard and here are just a couple of clips of it. The first was captured yesterday evening and the second this morning, and you’ll see how much seed has disappeared out of the pillow feeder in that time - just about all of it. It’s interesting to see that some squirrels will go straight for this feeder, which is far tougher to access than the tray right next door, while others prefer the easier option. In the second clip, a squirrel frantic to get at the very last of the seed actually gets all the way into the bag and has to wriggle out again. I think he gives himself a bit of a scare, but it doesn’t stop him and he’s back again immediately.

Footnote: by lunchtime they’d cleared out all the seeds, the bottom of the bag was neatly chewed open right from one end to the other. As I’ve temporarily run out of bags, that feeder will be down for a short while.

This post and the videos from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 Thanksgiving Movie #1, 11-23-06 [5:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Thanksgiving Movie #2, 11-23-06 [4:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

This is a slightly better quality clip of a squirrel on the pillow feeder. Not terrific and certainly not up to Zach’s quality as it was shot at a high level of digital zoom, but at least there is a better and more colorful image than I can provide with the webcams.

This post, as well as the picture and video from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 A slightly better clip, 11-22-06 [2:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

I was going to post this on Saturday, but I didn’t have any time to… Once again, the squirrels at the Pillow Feeder brought it down, double-strength wire or not! Video 1 is a shot of one of the squirrels tearing at the bottom of the bag to get the rest of the seeds, and Video 2 is the shot of the squirrel snapping the wire again - it’s interesting to note that before when they’d snap the wire, they’d jump off of the bag - now they’re so used to it, they just ride it down to the ground!

Squirrel tearing at the bottom of the Pillow Feeder!

And down she goes again!

Although written by me (Zach), the picture and videos in this post are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 Video 1 - Bottom Tearing [6:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Video 2 - Wire Snapping! [0:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Sorry for the delay in getting the pillow feeder back on cam after the squirrels cut it down, but it’s back now. This time around I doubled the thickness of the wire and double-bagged the seeds inside too, and I also suspended it from the center rather from both edges, so it rotates now just to make it a bit more of a challenge. In this clip you’ll see that it doesn’t offer a challenge to the first squirrel at all; the technique is to chew a small hole right in the corner and then hang from that side, so that the bag acts as a funnel which just lets one seed out at a time. Half way through the clip, the squirrel is chased off by another, who hasn’t quite figured out the technique yet and spends some time trying out different approaches and different angles, but after a few minutes he, too, gets the “hang” of it.

This post, as well as the picture and video from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 More dangling, 11-15-06 [6:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

This is just a quickie as I have to rush off out this morning but I wanted to post this pic anyway. The pillow feeder is off camera 4 at the moment because, as you may have read, the squirrels literally cut it down yesterday. When the weather cleared up last night I went out and picked it up and propped it up against my garage door, which is well away from the tree, intending to deal with it later today. When I looked out of the window this morning, guess what … yep, a squirrel had tipped it over and was tucking in happily.

I hope to have the feeder back on camera later today, weather permitting.

This post and the picture from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

I thought I’d seen everything with the Pillow Feeder…

The squirrels have figured it out time and time again, different kinds of challenges, different kinds of food - they always seem to figure out exactly what to do to get their prize. Whether it’s going in through the bottom, making a hole in the middle or just going through the side, they’ve always amazed me. But yesterday’s feed upped the ante a little bit more…

Yes, that’s right - they’ve actually figured out how to bring down the feeder! Twice even! I recorded the feed on Monday as I usually do when I have a chance to (and when things look like something could happen), and nothing happened in the few minutes I was watching it, so I let it run a little while longer. I came back to check it out again a little more than 2 hours later and saw that the feeder wasn’t even in the shot! Of course, at the time I believed that it probably just fell to the wind - either that, or a squirrel jumped on the bag and the line loosened…

Guess again!

Upon further inspection, the squirrels actually chewed on the fishing line tying the feeder to it’s support! They did it once, which you’ll see in the video below, then Chris put it back up (I didn’t show that :)) and the squirrels chewed it down again! They literally found the ultimate loop-hole to the hanging feeder idea - stop it from hanging! I have to admit, I have no idea if another webcam was watching where the feeder actually fell, (is there a cam stationed in that area?) but I’m pretty sure the squirrels had no problem with the feeder once it was on the ground! Maybe it’s time for another support idea… maybe a old clothes hanger or some sort of chain… that’s what I’ve been using (of course, my squirrels aren’t as acrobatic as these ones… yet…!)

Although written by me (Zach), the picture and video in this post are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 Pillow Feeder 11-13-06, with the acrobats! [1:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

For those who are interested, here is the video of all that went on with the Pillow Feeder feed on Sunday morning. With the design change, I figured it would be a *little* harder for the squirrels to crack, but they went right at it with precision and cleared all of the nuts out… err…… yawn, that’s old news, heard it before, been repeated time and time again, whatever, etc… But there was something different about yesterday’s recording - the Black squirrel came back! Maybe it wanted to survey the situation for a week or so before trying it…?

Not only that, but the tagged squirrel put in an appearance or 2… very cool! - I’ve never seen the tagged squirrel at the Pillow Feeder before (correct me if I’m wrong of course…) I still wonder why it’s tagged - if it’s been around this long, it’s interesting no one’s (or at least no one to your knowledge) has come around looking for him/her, if it’s a pet, or what…

Chris, you said in the last posting about the latest setup that

“I reckon that’s about it for the pillow feeder idea“

If you’re done with the whole idea, I just want to thank you again for trying it - I didn’t think anyone would have been interested enough in the idea, let alone willing enough to try it, and let alone again to stick with it until it worked! It’s been an interesting few weeks to see how someone else’s squirrels deal with a project similar to my original design! I’ve also learned a lot of things from your designs, tried newer methods of getting videos (including the up-shot, which I’ve been trying to get for 2 years, and is now a possibility), and would have never thought have doing if someone else didn’t prove it was possible! I didn’t think any design similar to mine had any chance working in a vertical design like the Pillow Feeder, and your squirrels have shown again, and again, and again that it’s not even an issue! Very, very, very cool!

It would be interesting to see if your birds would take to the idea also, but I don’t think it’s the right time of year for them - bird activity/interest usually peaks in the Spring, so maybe you’ll want to try this again next year — plus the squirrels would most likely just take the feeder back from the birds anyway, of course…

Although written by me (Zach), the picture and video in this post are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 Pillow Feeder 11-12-06 AM Feed [16:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

As expected, the pillow feeder is empty again. This time they made a neat hole in the outer layer, about three inches across and right in the center of the pillow, and simply took all the nuts. I reckon that’s about it for the pillow feeder idea; I might rearrange the view one last time but don’t expect anything I do to be a challenge or last longer than a day now. The squirrels are just too savvy and too adaptable.

This post and the picture from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

For my next iteration of the pillow feeder I got a couple of cardboard tubes to act as barriers, and put the peanuts in between the two tubes. And these tubes fitted tightly in the bag, too. Just for good measure I also ran some electical gaffer tape along the bottom of the bag to discourage any cheating from there. This is what the bag looked like …

So I went into the house, made a quick cup of coffee and went to look at the monitor. I was astonished to see that one of the tubes had already been pushed aside and there was a squirrel sitting leisurely eating one of my “protected” peanuts on top of the bag! So much for another clever scheme. Subsequently I’ve gone back out and reset the tubes but really don’t expect there to be any peanuts left by tomorrow. I admit it, I’m beaten.

This post, as well as the picture and video from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 There goes another good idea, 11-11-06 [1:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

This squirrel made me grin because he’s in such a rush to get into the bag and get a seed out each time; no relaxed hanging around for him. More haste doesn’t always work out though, as he only manages to stay on the bag for two minutes.

This post, as well as the picture and video from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 Fast food, 11-11-06 [1:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

I expect you’re getting bored with hanging squirrel clips, but I thought I’d post this one up just to show how much seed has gone since I tried using the pillow feeder for sunflower seed instead of roasted peanuts.

Lunchtime, 9th November

Lunchtime, 11th November

As you can see, the feeder has been a success and the change of feed hasn’t discouraged the squirrels from using this feeder at all. In the clip below you’ll see that they’ve made a small hole in the bottom now, so that they can help themselves to seed from there rather than having to go through the side. Mind you, you’ll also see that just staying up there is still problematic and although this squirrel looks like he’s got it down to perfection, he hasn’t - not quite.

This post, as well as the pictures and video from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 Hanging again!, 11-11-06 [2:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

In a reply to Chris’s original “Hefty bags are best” post…

“Yes, four out of five squirrels say they prefer Hefty bags to other, smaller makes!“

Based on additional independant usage surveys among bag-conscious woodland creatures, two out of three raccoons agree!…

…but given the same product test in similar usability surveys among birds, the avian consumers, such as grackles, bluejays and crows depend on and defend their Ziploc™ brand bags with ferocity…

All pictures in this post © Zach Glenwright.

Ziploc™ is copyright SC Johnson Corporation and Hefty™ is copyright Pactiv Corporation… just to be safe!…

Here’s a squirrel not content with just one feeder. He starts off on the ground and then visits the pillow feeder, the tray feeder, and ends up in the birdfeeder for the last course. Maybe the sunflower seeds just taste different from different feeders?

This post, as well as the picture and video from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 Four course lunch, 11-9-06 [3:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Here’s an almost perfect demonstration of the hanging technique on the pillow feeder. I say “almost” but you’ll have to wait until the end of the clip to find out why.

This post, as well as the picture and video from it are © 2006 Chris Osborne, originally published on The Backyard Voyeur. The “Pillow Feeder” is his feeder project based on my (Zach Glenwright’s) Backyard Bag Feeder Project…

 

 Almost perfect!, 11-9-06: Play Now | Play in Popup