Chippy's New Plan

 Earlier this week, Mom told me I couldn’t go on her next trip. I was a little disappointed … okay, truth be told I was really mad. Vinnie captured the moment in a photo and now its all over social media. I don’t want everyone thinking I am sourpuss chipmunk. After about 30 seconds, I realized getting mad wouldn’t fix the situation. I needed a PLAN. It was time to take matters into my own paws. So, what is the most essential thing needed for a road trip adventure??? Any guesses? Yes, you’re perfectly correct, you need a car. Not some chipmunk size car, but, a real human car preferable with off road capability.

I scurried off to the nearest Subaru dealership. The saleswoman was a bit suspicious of selling a car to a chipmunk until I pulled out my Gold Platinum credit card. Then I got the royal treatment – coffee, fresh sunflower seed donuts, and a nice cushion to sit on. I should do this more often. I decided to go with a used car, something with some wear and tear and a few dents and dings. I want folks to think I am a seasoned traveler.

I thought I was first chipmunk to think up this idea. I opened the door and found another chipmunk in the car I was looking at. I wasn’t expecting competition.

“I saw it first, no I did”

I did my best insane chipmunk impression, and the other fellow left in a hurry.

Can I reach the steering wheel? I think I need a booster seat.

Chipmunks enjoy sticking their heads out the windows as much as dogs do.

Where do I sign?

The Great Mailbox Robbery

I got a big bonus at work, so, I ordered some Russian sunflower seeds ($500 an ounce). This is the chipmunk equivalent of caviar. I checked the tracking number and it said it was delivered to my mailbox. I hurried home but I couldn’t find the package. Oh no, they must have delivered it to the wrong address. Then I noticed some suspicious looking sunflower seeds shells near the mailbox. I gave them a good sniff and yup they were Russian sunflower seeds.

I have been robbed!!!

I pulled up the security camera footage. It showed my old school teacher Mrs. Spot had stopped by and knocked on the burrow but I wasn’t home. Then I observed a funny reaction. Mrs. Spot’s sniffer started going a mile a minute. She must have smelled the Russian sunflower seeds. Lured by their irresistible smell she tracked them down to my mailbox …. This is hard to talk about … she ate all of them. I can’t watch this anymore.

Spot “Anyone home?”

Spot “Whatever smells good seems to be coming from the mailbox”

Spot “I wonder what it could be?”

Here is Spot eating my Russian sunflower seeds!!

Update: American Customs banned Russian sunflower seeds because they are treated with scents that make them addictive. After a week at a recovery center Mrs. Spot’s was back to her strict old school teacher self. Do you believe this, she gave me detention for buying illegal sunflower seeds.

Green House

I was out last evening trying to do some stargazing but this bright light near the woodpile was messing everything up. I decided I needed to investigate this “light pollution”. I discovered a huge new skyscraper had gone up literally overnight. (It was 30 stories high, as chipmunk measure such things.) It was being lit from the inside. I sneaked up closer and looked inside. I found it was full of young seedling plants. It turns out Mom has started her plants for the community garden plot and they need warmth, moisture, and a well lit environment to get started.

Hmmm, this is an interesting idea. We chipmunks have gotten a reputation for consuming thousands of pounds of sunflower seeds in a season without contributing to their cultivation. I thought I would setup my own greenhouse or more correctly “green den” and grow my own sunflower seeds and flowers. It is about time we chipmunks give something back to the environment.

Subterranean warehouse #5 was empty. I tunneled through the roof to create skylight and built a fireplace to keep the plants warm.

 The new ultra modern “skyscraper” near the Woodpile

This green house got me thinking I need my own

 Photo 350 – Here I am setting out the seeds to plant

No need for garden tools when a nose will do!

Don’t even think about entering my green house

Dessert

Mom did some “redecorating” of the Woodpile this week with some additional feeders. The Catbirds, Baltimore Orioles, even an Orchard Oriole, and the Hummingbirds have returned for the warm months. Boy do they have a sweet tooth. They love sugar water and grape jelly. I am proud to say, we chipmunks eat a healthy diet …

We interrupt this blog with breaking tabloid news

Hi, this is Bushy the squirrel with CNN (Critter News Network). We just obtained these exclusive secret photos of Chippy eating his dessert BEFORE dinner. So, don’t believe all that hype about “we chipmunks eat a healthy diet.”

 At this point, Chippy has completely polished off an entire dish of grape jelly.

Here is Chippy trying to hide behind the hummingbird feeder while he tries to clean his sticky paws and get rid of the evidence.

Citizen Science

I have been hearing a lot of ‘Citizen Science”. Ordinary people volunteer their time to help collect data on all sorts of subjects and then they submit it to a big database. Scientists and experts use that information to study trends and changes over large areas of the country. Cornell Labs has a citizen science project called Feeder Watch. Mom signed us up for a second year in a row to participate. From November to mid-April, you write down all of the species of birds that come to your feeders over a two day period (once a week). You have to count the highest number of each species that shows up at one time.

You spend a lot of time looking out the window counting birds. It becomes a bit of a game to find the most birds and highest number of species for the season. On the downside, Mom gives the birds several tons of sunflower seeds to “bribe” them to come to the feeders. The thought of giving away so many seeds to the birds is enough to make any chipmunk go insane! Those seeds could be put to much better use in my six commercial underground warehouses. The birds are such messy eaters. They leave shells everywhere. Another good reason to leave us chipmunks in charge of the sunflower seed.

While I was contemplating this travesty of injustice, Mom knocked on the burrow door and asked if I would help with the project. She needed someone to take photos of the birds, and said I was most qualified person for the job. I grabbed my gear and went to work. I even made some new friends.

 I setup my photograph bird blind in the wheel well of the car. It was great advantage point.

 

What the heck?! That bird looks like something from the Jurassic Park movies.[Compared to Chippy, this female turkey is size of T-Rex - Mom] Thank goodness I am in a steel reinforce bird blind.

Northern Cardinal (He just signed a deal with Hallmark greeting cards)

This White Breasted Nuthatch likes "hanging around" 

This Tufted Titmouse enjoys a sunflower snow cone

This Black Capped Chickadee enjoys the many winter sports offered at the Woodpile

Red Belly Woodpeckers seems to have missed the memo that woodpeckers are supposed to eat bugs.

This one really likes the cracked corn.

This Downy Woodpecker demonstrates “proper” woodpecker behavior.  

Mr. Grackle and myself did some after hour bird feeder raiding.

Meet my newest friend.

Indiana Chippy

My favorite films are the “Indiana Jones” series. I like to day dream about “Indiana Chippy.” Mom writes books of stone structures. She takes all these trips to far away archaeological sites in New England. I keep asking to go along but she says it is too dangerous (something about the hotels not allowing pets. I am not a “pet”!). Well, I sort of stowed away in the luggage on Mom’s last trip. I was having a grand adventure exploring the archaeological sites … until Mom caught me red pawed. I finally convinced her that having the world’s smartest and smallest archaeologist on the team was a huge asset. I can crawl into all sorts of tight spots. No hi-tech expensive snake camera needed. Here is my secret for stowing away:

 How do I open this (backpack)? 

 

Is anyone looking?

Double check to coast is clear

Time to stow-away

 

 This is Mom exploring a 1750s American Indian log run dug into the side of a mountain in Connecticut (just before she turned around and caught me following her!) 

Here I am exploring a crevice

I discovered this ancient temple full of gold (Update: It is only about a year old… and no gold)

This is a real American Indian ceremonial stone cairn from the mid 1700s. (Note the blue backpack I stowed away in.)

Honoring Bushy

Every year certain members of the Woodpile are recognized. We heard about a human custom where they “Roast” honorees, it supposed to be very comedic. No one at the Woodpile knew how these ceremonies were performed … so, we improvised just a bit. I was given the task of being the emcee for the event. This year’s honoree was Bushy for his community service to the Woodpile.

  Bushy arrives not knowing what is going on – “What is all the wood for”

 “Whats cooking?”

Please come sit in the Woodpile `Pot of Honor’. You are Woodpile Critter of the Year.

Feel free to “dive-in.”

You need to get all the ways in

[Chippy) “Bushy has been very industrious this year. He has made sure there were no stray seeds on the ground. He has eaten every one of them despite the fact it has caused him to fatten up. He wouldn’t let anyone else help him. For his many hours of public service we made this stew for him.”

(Bushy) “I am honored you made this roast sunflower stew to celebrate my accomplishments. It is very tasty. What is on the menu for the main course?”

(Bushy) “Hey guys, this pot of honor is getting rather warm.”

(Chippy) “All good things must come to end. So it is with Bushy. Time to cook the main course.”

(Bushy) “I have a bad feeling about this …”

 "Hey, this isn’t funny anymore, I’m out of here.”

[audience] burst of uncontrollable laughter.

By now you’re thinking, “oh my God, the Woodpile has gone mad.” I might have forgotten to mention one tiny, small, unimportant detail – this was an April Fools prank.