Earlier today, I visited a public garden near my home. I was there in the late afternoon on a Friday, and the grounds were nearly deserted. Squirrels raced about, carrying bits of trash or snacking on the various garden plants. I also heard — and saw — numerous cardinals. The squirrels posed for me and the cardinals stayed put long enough to turn and look at me once or even twice. By comparison, the Piney Woods Church Road wildlife is exceedingly skittish. The other day, I glimpsed my first cardinal along the roadway, but it vanished long before I could bring it into focus with my camera. I have seen a few squirrels, but always from a distance, and always racing away from me as rapidly as possible. Their urban cousins are so much more affable with regard to being photographed. I suspect this is, in good part, because of all the food (human litter and various plants) available in the gardens. I suspect people try to feed the squirrels from time to time, too. Whatever the cause(s), the result was some charming images.
enjoyed your shots of the squirrel and cardinal – wish I had the tech skills to capture the birds (bluebird, cardinal, tufted titmouse, junco, goldfinch) against the dusting of snow
Thank you, Mary. With my current camera’s limited zoom, and my own innate impatience for standing or sitting quietly to wait for birds to appear, most of my shots are happenstance (i.e., luck). The trick with squirrels is to go where they are used to people (and probably get handouts) — places like zoos and botanical gardens.
Clifford
I forgot to mention the squirrel in the feeder who simply looked at me and kept on eating!
Mary,
Squirrels can be very brazen beasts! My mom fed the birds for years, and she gave up trying to keep the squirrels away — she put out trays of food for them, too, hoping they might leave the bird feeders alone that way. I don’t think it worked.
Clifford