For over a week now, I've been watching a group of Red squirrels
that spend much of each day in the Sugar maple tree
outside the window of my office.
They spend hours climbing out to the tips of the branches
to break off the seed wings which they then carry back
to one of the large inner branches of the tree which makes
a comfortable perch.
It seems that not all maple seed wings are created equal.
Some must be delicious, while others are not.
About two-thirds of the time, the squirrels carry a wing
to their perch and sit there holding it while they eat
the seeds out of the two halves, and then they toss the
wing to the ground and race out to break off another.
However, it seems that about a third of the wings are duds.
When a squirrel bites into a dud, it immediately FLINGS
the wing off into space, like some repugnant boomerang
that one spins off hoping that it won't return.
No sooner does the squirrel rid itself of the disgusting seed wing,
than it starts vigorously rubbing at its mouth and entire face.
You can just about imagine it shrieking, Bbrrrruuuuhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
as it rubs and washes its face for a good 30 seconds.
At the end of the washing routine, it immediately races
to the tip of the branches to tear loose another wing.
Ever the optimists, these squirrels don't seem too put off
by the thought that every third wing will be horrible tasting.
No doubt there's a lesson for all of us in there... somewhere,
but danged if I can figure it out.
(o: |
