My condolences! We've had a group of four deer making daily treks through our backyard all winter long... or at least through the tree row behind the house. The paths they left in the snow revealed they really were avoiding our yard. Perhaps its time for Scoop to "earn" his kibble! I hope the combination of my deer skull bird house, and the fact that I send Izzy out after them will continue to discourage them from committing "Narcicide" (Jonquil-slaughter? Daffo-dispatch?) in our yard when the flowers awaken.

Birds won't taste hot pepper. I was told to add hot pepper to bird seed to keep squirrels away. My Mom swears it works and the birds eat it just fine. My problem is bunnies!!! DAM Bunnies. My neighbor with an outdoor cat moved away and we lost our bunny control. They have ven chewed the bark off my trees and the bottom half of an arbovite bush (sp?) I saw all kinds of bunny poop in one of my flower beds. They are eating the plants that are showing a little green already in the gound. I am just going to get a small fence. I really don't want one but I have to...otherwise I will go nuts. They are immune to all the animal repellants. Plus those get expensive when it keeps snowing or raining them away. The animals love our yards beause we actually grow flowers. Most of my neighbors just have bushes. nothing yummy for critters to eat. Karen

I don't know why, but the last 2 times in as many days that I've tried to respond on this thread, my comment has just disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle or something. Today, from inside my house, I heard the same screaming. Stepping out on my front walk, I could tell it was up in my pine tree. Look as I might, I could not see the hawk, but there was a ton of noise and commotion up there. I think I saw some grackles and some bluejays hoppping around, and I still wasn't positive there was even a hawk up there, despite the screams (not being a bird expert, I don't know the calls for certain). I thought maybe it was the blue jays screaming. This time I had the camera. i took a step onto the grass under the trees to aim for a better vantage point, but before I could do anything else, a HUGE (wide wingspan) bird flapped out of the tree, away from me and my house, and flew off into the distance. With him flew at least two smaller birds (same as last time). He didn't seem to be chased by them. They seemed to be companions? wingmen? LOL I dont' know. Anyway, I stupidly was trying to turn on my camera although it was already on and I didn't get a picture. I'm marvelling at the fact that this large bird can hide itself in the trees so well. This is the second time I was certain of it's location in a particular tree but still could not see it. Anyway, I think it's pretty cool!

I just got a HOSP trap. Forgive the newbie here. It has traps on both sides with a holding compartment in the center. Unfortunately I got it too late. I had my first bluebird pair just building their nest (I put up a pair of boxes last year). The nest wasn't even completed and I found the female bb dead this morning. I'm assuming it was the male HOSP that has been hanging around harrassing them. I don't even know if he has a mate. I have also seen a starling. They have no interest in that house except when the bb's are there. Anyway, the trap will go out as soon as I can get myself organized. I am planning on getting CO2. Is that a good idea? I have to get moving on this. I also have a purple martin house that I'll be opening soon.