I’m really not bored or at a loss for things to do, but after reading this I’m sure some will think otherwise.

OK so after the ice storm last week I was playing outside with my daughter, crunching through the 2 inch layer of hard crusty ice and snow that was on top of the snow that fell earlier in the week. I noticed that with everything coated in this Wintery shell, that squirrels and birds alike could not get to buried nuts or any remaining berries and seeds on the plants.

So I posted a couple ears of dried corn on the porch and scattered several cups of bird seed and nuts on the back yard under the tree. It sat there on the icy crust and I thought, “I wonder if birds and squirrels will notice.”

The next day I sat down to breakfast with my daughter and we looked out the back sliding door in amazement as several dozen bright blue and red jays, all types of small birds and squirrels were busy feasting on the corn and seed several feet away from our breakfast table. My daughter was busy identifying the birds while I was feeling proud for bringing joy to a small portion of the animal kingdom.

About an hour later my daughter was in the basement playing with the cats. She announced with loud exclamation that one of the cats had just brought in a bird to eat. Uh oh. Had I just un-knowningly created the perfect trap for birds and squirrels? That would be yes.

I considered the matter for most of the day and have concluded that while I did manage to kill at least one bird, I have saved many more from starvation. Because of course there isn’t a single other human within miles also feeding the birds.

Today I spent breakfast and lunch again marveling at the number of small animals feasting in my backyard. At one point during lunch there were six squirrels (never-mind the countless birds) all huddled and eating within a ten square foot area. One of the squirrels is extremely fat. I’ve never seen seen a fat squirrel before. I assume this on is the squirrel that actually lives in our backyard and has had a head start on all the other critters.

Yes people, this is how I pass time in Iowa.

Here’s the two squirrels that don’t run away when I try to take a video: