Super squirter, eh? They'll probably just flip you the avian middle
feather! But at least you'll be having some fun.

And yes, I share your sentiments about the absence of native mammals
from our urban scene. Although I did have an Opossum last week in full
daylight, easily the size of a Warthog!

Cheers,
Robert


On Jan 24, 2008, at 3:38 PM, Dennis Paulson wrote:

> Thanks for the note, Robert. And thanks to others who immediately
> responded to me. A super squirter sounds like a good idea, and I could
> have fun with the squirrels too! Not that I mind them being here, as
> all our feeders are protected from them, they just get stuff that
> falls to the ground, and, as I've written before, they add a mammal to
> the "wild" animals I can enjoy in my yard. Too bad Douglas squirrels
> and Townsend chipmunks haven't been able to adapt to the urban scene.
>
> Some friends of mine years ago wrote a paper describing starlings
> stealing worms from robins (kleptoparasitism, just as in jaegers and
> terns), something they were doing regularly on the UW lawns. So I
> don't know which species benefits from the association. Perhaps indeed
> they both do.
>
> Dennis
>
> On Jan 24, 2008, at 3:22 PM, Robert Pisano wrote:
>
>> Hello Dennis, and others ...
>>
>> As to Robins flocking with starlings, yes.? I've noticed the same
>> thing here for years now, and surmise they get some mutual benefit
>> from the association - much like other wild birds following
>> chickadees to the various feeders in the neighborhood.? I've seen the
>> Starlings dig and peck through the lawns here with great vigor; could
>> the Robins be following after for the errant worm or two?
>>
>> Robert Pisano
>> Ravenna Neighborhood / Seattle
>>
> -----
> Dennis Paulson
> 1724 NE 98 St.
> Seattle, WA 98115
> 206-528-1382
> dennispaulson at comcast.net
>
>
>
>