Emily,

I'm glad to hear from you.  Don't be intimidated by lack of knowledge. Not 
everyone here is an "expert" birder - I count myself, of course, close the 
top of that list. So it's nice to hear from you. I suspect there are a lot 
of lurkers. I found the only way to learn is to come out and ask questions 
and post your sightings. People have a delete button...I myself use it 
often.

Nice to hear from you.

Kerry Stone
Takoma Park, MD
Montgomery County




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Emily Wilberg" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2006 8:02 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] suet thief


> Hi! I've been lurking for over a year and never posted being intimidated
> by my lack of knowledge of birds (but enthusiasm for them)and not wanting
> to violate any posting rules.
>
> But I do have an experience that I wanted to share regarding disappearing
> suet:
>
> I also have a green wire suet cage that we 'lock' closed by a bread twisty
> tie that is drained regularly. I had suspected squirrels or flying
> squirrels, but about a month ago we were up at 3 am with my sick daughter
> and found the culprit.
>
> Our neighbor had been leaving their flood lights on and we were able to
> clearly see a huge raccoon on my back deck sampling my suet. He was in no
> hurry and we sat in our darkened family room and watched him for about 1/2
> hour as he nibbled and cleaned out the suet feeder.
>
> I've been putting out less birdseed more often and less than a full block
> of suet. It does get expensive.
>
> I've got new birdfeeders and christmas birdseed out but have only had the
> regular customers on my deck feeders- house sparrows, junco, mourning
> doves, titmouse, chickadee, goldfinches, downy woodpeckers, and nuthatch.
> A nice little bunch of regulars.
>
> Emily Wilberg, Germantown
> 
>