I have been feeding the local goldfinches nyjer seed as well. The little pigs consume an astounding quantity of the stuff.
But I also discovered that the local rodent populace, rattus rattus, enjoys eating the nyjer husks. Well, I didn't invite the beady-eyed plague-spreaders, and didn't intend to feed them. So I placed a 25 gallon tub underneath the bird feeder to catch the hulls.
This, naturally, didn't dissuade the rats. They simply leapt into the tub and ate everything they could pack into their fat bellies, and jumped back out. This would not do.
I figured that if I, say, added water and turned the tub into a rat swimming pool that this might be an interesting twist. It is. Rats can't tread water forever, and moreover when their little feetsies can't touch bottom they can't jump out. So. My new chore is to check for ratlings who been defeated by hypothermia and/or exhaustion. They are quite stiff when I find them. Don't anybody tell Janice Shell, or she is liable to put a contract out on me. |
