Pumpkins and Preparing for Winter

 As we close in on the last days of October here are some sights of the season.

Found Sunday in Otsiningo Park in Binghamton, New York.  Someone left a random pumpkin in this scenic spot.  There were two other pumpkins nearby.  I suspect these were part of displays for the Scarecrow contest that ended Thursday.   I'm sure the wildlife will enjoy these.

This was nearby.

Big pumpkins/small pumpkins at a farm stand.  Those big pumpkins were big.

Speaking of wildlife, here's an Eastern chipmunk (right center) preparing for its winter torpor.  Fun fact, chipmunks do not hibernate.  They gather food in their burrows or nests and enter a semi-hibernation state, where they will occasionally eat.

Meanwhile our Northern cardinals stay colorful all year.  I wish I could zoom in better with my iPhone.  The red male Northern cardinal is sitting on the fence.

I have to prepare for winter, but right now I'm spending some time raking leaves.  Here, this is an annual ritual.

What are you doing?

Chipmunk vs Feeder Round 1

Yesterday, I sat outside and read, but I was so distracted by an Eastern chipmunk's antics that I decided to take some pictures.  My spouse has been battling this chipmunk, which is determined to feast on the seeds we intend for our local birds.

The chipmunk makes his approach.

Our feeder has been protected by a store bought baffle but it didn't seem to be working so spouse tried to make his own.  

Let's see how that is going to work out.  The homemade baffle is that shinymetal thing on the pole.  The feeder is at the top right of the photo.

Mr. or Ms. chipmunk eats some seeds scattered by the birds.  I'll call him a male.

He thinks.  These creatures are smart and persistent.

What if I jump up and hit the baffle, Mr. Chipmunk wonders.  Some birds are such sloppy eaters that they shovel seeds onto the baffle.  Yes, his logic works.  A shower of seeds await him when he hits the underside of the battle.  But finally, he runs out of seed showers.

After several rounds of hit the baffle, he finally figures out how to get up to the feeder.

Chipmunk 1 spouse 0.

But no worries, sports fans.  The battle was rejoined today with a second baffle a foot or 18 inches above the first one.  It is far from elegant but so far it seems to be working.

But, as the newly awakened from winter slumber chipmunk knows, the season has just begun.

Let the chipmunk or squirrel vs. bird feeder battles begin.