[NatureNS] Southern Flying Squirrel

From: Bob McDonald <bobathome@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
References: <49CB90B1EDE144588F0596E308F2638E@hans57ff9baf63>
Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:02:07 -0300
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Interesting story, Hans.  And how did you rule out the more common, more widely distributed Northern Flying Squirrel?  (We have had these creatures, nibbling at the sunflower seed feeders overnight at our current location in Clayton Park West.)

Bob McDonald
Halifax
bobathome@eastlink.ca

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Hans Toom 
  To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 8:16 AM
  Subject: [NatureNS] Southern Flying Squirrel


  The Southern Flying Squirrel is well north of its range in Nova Scotia although they have turned up in Halifax and other locations in Nova Scotia.  Whether this is range expansion or abandonment of caged squirrels is unknown to me.  Well, we have a Southern Flying Squirrel visiting our sunflower feeder in the dark of night here in Portugusese Cove.  We have deduced this from its diminutive size and by its weight.  But how can you weigh the squirrel barks the skeptic?

  Our sunflower feeder is the counter balanced type designed specifically to keep out pest species such as red squirrels and blue jays.  We balance the feeder to deter the blue jay and squirrel.  The front of the feeding tray closes when either of these species land on the feeding bar.  So far, so good, but the blue jay is tenacious and they developed the nasty habit of flying up to the tray and snapping up a sunflower seed as the trap door closed on their bill.  This is not a problem, seed consumption wise, but the constant clanging of the feeder door opening and closing was driving me crazy so I turned the feeder towards the house so that the feeding platform is about 12 inches from the wall.  This maneuver defeated the blue jay and the silence made Hans happy!

  Now, the Southern Flying Squirrel lands on the feeder and the door does not close!  So we deduce that the squirrel must weigh less than the blue jay.  I looked up the weights of these species; the squirrel weighs 1.8 to 2.5 ounces and the blue jay weighs 2.4- 3.5 ounces.  How's that for application of the scientific method??

  I have three large roosting boxes and several nest boxes scattered about the woods around our house.  I gave up maintaining them since the local red squirrels immediately occupy them and fill them with grass to the lip of the entrance cavity.  Next year I'll put up two blue bird boxes on steel poles, and try again.


  Hans Toom
  Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
  http://www.hanstoom.com/

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<DIV><FONT size=2>Interesting story, Hans.&nbsp; And how did you rule out the 
more common, more widely distributed <STRONG>Northern Flying 
Squirrel</STRONG>?&nbsp; (We have had these creatures, nibbling at the sunflower 
seed feeders overnight at our current location in Clayton Park 
West.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Bob McDonald</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Halifax</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><A 
href="mailto:bobathome@eastlink.ca">bobathome@eastlink.ca</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE 
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" 
dir=ltr>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV 
  style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> 
  <A title=htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca href="mailto:htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca">Hans 
  Toom</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=naturens@chebucto.ns.ca 
  href="mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 03, 2010 8:16 
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [NatureNS] Southern Flying 
  Squirrel</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The <STRONG>Southern Flying Squirrel</STRONG> is 
  well north of its range in Nova Scotia although they have turned up in Halifax 
  and other locations in Nova Scotia.&nbsp; Whether this is range expansion or 
  abandonment of caged squirrels is&nbsp;unknown to me.&nbsp; Well, we have a 
  <STRONG>Southern Flying Squirrel</STRONG> visiting our sunflower feeder in the 
  dark of night here in Portugusese Cove.&nbsp; We have deduced this from its 
  diminutive size and by its weight.&nbsp; But how can you weigh the squirrel 
  barks the skeptic?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Our sunflower feeder is the counter balanced type 
  designed specifically to keep out pest species such as red squirrels and blue 
  jays.&nbsp; We balance the feeder to deter the blue jay and squirrel.&nbsp; 
  The front of the feeding tray closes when either of these species land on the 
  feeding bar.&nbsp; So far, so good, but the blue jay is tenacious and they 
  developed the nasty habit of flying up to the tray and snapping up a sunflower 
  seed as the trap door&nbsp;closed on their bill.&nbsp; This is not a problem, 
  seed consumption wise, but the constant clanging of the feeder door opening 
  and closing was driving me crazy so I turned the feeder towards the house so 
  that the feeding platform is about 12 inches from the wall.&nbsp; This 
  maneuver defeated the blue jay and the silence made Hans happy!</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Now, the <STRONG>Southern Flying 
  Squirrel</STRONG> lands on the feeder and the door does not close!&nbsp; So we 
  deduce that the squirrel must weigh less than the blue jay.&nbsp; I looked up 
  the weights of these species; the squirrel weighs 1.8 to 2.5 ounces and the 
  blue jay weighs 2.4- 3.5 ounces.&nbsp; How's that for application of the 
  scientific method??</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I have three large roosting boxes and several 
  nest boxes scattered about the woods around our house.&nbsp; I gav