Prime Suspect

Last blip of the goldfinch I noticed that the perch above the one where he was sitting looked broken. The next morning I went out to inspect the damage, and discovered there were no remaining perches left as they had all been chewed off. I had to make a quick run to the store to replace the feeder before the goldfinches came to eat.

Meet Stumpy. He showed up a couple of months ago, a little worn, ragged, and tailless. When I first saw him, I went out to add a little squirrel food to the feeder, and he just sat there looking at me, with that hollow eyed look of a serial killer. I'd seen that look before...I volunteered at a wildlife rehab facility a few years ago, and they had a crazy squirrel that couldn't be released so she just lived there. One day she was showing signs of dehydration, so we got her out to give her a little subcutaneous fluids...and I was the lucky one to get to hold her down. I made the mistake of letting my pinky stick out and she sunk her teeth clean through the pad on my finger. I have a scar and no feeling in my finger now. Stumpy has that same look as she did...a little crazy. I can't blame him really, he's obviously had a rough time, but I will be ever vigilant to make sure he gets nowhere near my fingers.

So did he do the damage? Probably? Raccoons? Maybe....the new feeder is metal and can't be chewed. The goldfinches have happily taken to it and life goes on...