bonzo wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2017 10:39 am
I saw a useful wee tip on TV. If you coat nuts and alike in chilli the birds will still eat them as they have no sense of taste but the squirrels will not go near them.
Hi Bonzo
This raises the question, 'what does chilli do to birds' stomachs?'
We were in Luxembourg the last couple of weeks and the camping was hoaching with red squirrels. It was great to see them and not the invader grey ones.
JD.
I don't know JD but I know what it does to mine . I take it as it was a nature program it wouldn't tell you something that would cause harm.
There are still plenty of reds on Arran, it's good to see them.
bonzo wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2017 10:39 am
I saw a useful wee tip on TV. If you coat nuts and alike in chilli the birds will still eat them as they have no sense of taste but the squirrels will not go near them.
Birds do have a sense of taste but it varies with the species. Their sense of taste may not be as acute as humans. However they love sweet and salty foods. When my dad grew onions from setts our pigeons had to be kept locked up until they were too hot for them. I guess those chillies weren't very hot.
bonzo wrote: ↑Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:07 am
Don't shoot the messenger, I'm only relaying what Kate Humble told me
No offence intended Bonzo but I've always thought birds had a sense of taste especially as they have a tongue but anyway as you know i'm not infallible so I googled it and yes I am right they do have a sense of taste and some birds have more taste buds than others. Crows, buzzards and pigeons have good taste receptors compared with other birds. Put out a block of salt and watch them peck at it. And my friend Viv's birds have a sweet tooth hence they love her rice crispies.
None taken. I had a wee Google tae it seems birds do have taste but don't have taste receptors for capsicum (which gives chillies their heat)and squirrels being mammals do. Every day is a school day right enough
Yesterday I went down to the White Wife to feed the ducks. Apart for one who kept her distance not a duck to be seen. A coot made its way over and had some bread. Then eight mallards that had been hiding in the water plants came swimming out. I gave them a cheery come on and on they came. The shooting season for wildfowl began on the first of September and I guess they had a bad experience in one of their nocturnal visits.
I seen this wee skinny robin in my back garden a few months ago, think it was july it was not showing off like some robins do .I hope it comes back with a better figure in December.