[TN-Bird] Wild Flyers
- From: ByrdBrainBBW@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2003 08:30:58 EDT
Ok, I lured you in with the title. But I am cheating a bit- this is not about
birds. Still, the title applies. I probably should post this to some other,
non bird specific group. On the other hand, I thought some of you might be
interested...
Every night, coming to my tree feeders containing shelled corn, are Southern
Flying Squirrels. They have been coming to eat for quite some time. Since our
outside house lights are on all night long, they are easy to spot as they flit
around the trees. Their white undersides give them away.
One particular evening, I went out to fill the corn feeders. As I did, one
peeked out at me from the back side of the tree- right next to where I stood. I
went back to sitting on the patio a few feet away, visiting with a friend. I
noticed the little flyer was curious about us, and kept peeking out at us as we
talked. Soon, it just sat on the feeder and ate in full view of us.
I decided to do some research, and found that people have been keeping flyers
for pets for many years. I have no intention of ever doing anything like
this, but I was very intrigued with the little critters. I mean, it's an
unbelievably cute little mammal, but it flies. What's not to like about that?
Ok, well
it really glides. Still, pretty amazing.
I set out to see if I could have a "personal" experience with these tiny
creatures. I am sure some of you will think I am crazy, but in my research I
read
more than once, that they are not known to carry rabies.
That was several months ago. Now, almost every evening, they will answer me
when I call them, if they are anywhere near the sound of my voice. They also
usually glide in when I do so. They like the shelled corn on the feeder I put
out, but they know I have the real treats...
I take out pecan pieces when they glide in, and hold my hand very still
against the tree. And I'm usually rewarded by a little flitting wild creature,
grabbing a pecan from my hand, and nibbling away. Sometimes they take a bite,
and
run up the tree a few feet and hang upside down and eat. And sometimes the
just hang right above my hand and use it for the food dish. When I first tired
this, (I was successful on my third attempt to hand feed one) I got a few light
nibbles on my fingers. But it was never hard- just testing to see if I was
food. They pick up food with their mouths, then hold it between both paws to
eat
it. Now they never nibble on me- the pecans taste better!
One of them, on rare occasions, has actually sat in my hand to eat. She (well
I don't really know if it's a she), is the most tame around me. She sits
facing me, with her tiny feet around my fingers, and her little tail pressed
flat
against the tree, looking right at me with her huge, bright, nocturnal eyes.
They weigh only 2-4 ounces, and I can barely feel her when she sits there. And
I barely breathe when she does this! She will sometimes go to a tree nearby
without the feeders on it, and squeak to let me know she is there- waiting on
the backside of the tree, at eye level, for me to come to her.
It's been an amazing, magical experience for me to interact with this wild
flyers. If anyone would like to come over one evening, and hopefully see them
up
close and personal (thanks Jan Shaw for doing just that :), please contact
me.
Marian Delaplane
Nashville, TN
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