BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 31, 2021
“Where are all the birds?” I wondered recently. Numerous species remain in Maine year round, but lately, I haven’t seen many around my home in the forest. So, tired of all the quiet, I decided it was high time to fill my bird feeder with seed. A big, fat gray squirrel showed up. I watched as he examined it from all angles. Then the squirrel figured it out. I’ve never minded squirrel visitors much. The one animal I don’t want visiting my bird feeder is black bears, simply because they can be dangerous (though it is rare), especially if you throw a rambunctious dog into the mix. That’s why I wait until winter, when bears are tucked away in their dens, to fill any feeders. Despite Jules and his fluffy-tailed gang, the feeder has seen plenty of birds in its first week of operation.