According to Mark Twain, you need two things to succeed in life — ignorance and confidence.
With that in mind, we introduce you to the new denizen in our Park Forest back yard, a smarty-pants, bushy-tailed squirrel that believes it’s a bird.
For the last three months, this rodent has mastered the art of robbing our bird feeders of the seeds and suet meant for the hardiest of the species — the woodpeckers, nuthatches, finches, sparrows, juncos, cardinals and doves who disdain the sultry breezes of the southern climes for the rugged winters here.
These winged creatures have been pecking away at the feeders throughout the late fall and winter months. They are content in their ability to withstand the cold, blustery winds, and until this past week, the occasional blasts of snow and wind.
Sad to say, birds are not dainty eaters and do not have decent table manners. As much falls to the ground as is nabbed by their beaks.
Doves and starlings are the vacuum cleaners of the avian world. Worms may be tasty in the spring, but clumps of seeds offer easier pickings.
It was June when we first became aware of the squirrel, who showed us its daring athleticism by traipsing along the top of the slats of our wooden fence as if the inch-wide width was the equivalent of a stroll down State Street.
At other times, the animal would wander over to one of our two bird feeders, nibble at its leavings and look up with his large eyes. Squirrels eat anything — seeds, paper, and even an occasional electrical wire should it feel a little hungry. One could only imagine its excitement at finding this golden horn of plenty.
Our self-confident intruder tried and failed to climb up the thin metal pole, from which each feeder dangles. Persistent as it was, the squirrel kept trying and finally was able to cling to the feeder.
Hanging by its feet, it would first feast on seeds and then clamber down to have dessert on some small kernels that escaped his hunger. Well, OK. There was enough for both squirrel and bird, so enjoy.
Then one day there was this whoop from the woman who inhabits my life.
“It flew,” she said loudly.
It had indeed almost flown. The squirrel apparently leaped some four to five feet from the gutter of the garage onto the top of a feeder containing bird suet, which, I am told, is the filet mignon of the bird world.
Squirrel had its nose inside the feeder and was chomping away. Every few days or so, it returns for another fine meal, sometimes leaping, sometimes dangling, and usually curled up as if it were cuddling the feeder.
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Even in the animal world ignorance is easily overcome if one has confidence.
You say potato, I say so what
The second of three candidate forums sponsored by the Non-Partisan League will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Village Hall. There are two candidates for mayor, five candidates for three trustee positions and only two vying for three seats on the Library Board in the April 7 village election.
What does that tell you about books these days?
Some 60 or so of the usual suspects filled the room for the first forum. An obviously incomplete summary of the forum follows, but no names are mentioned to protect the innocent.
Both the incumbent mayor and his challenger discussed successful efforts to bring a new grocery store to the community but differed on who did what to whom and when. Other issues included minority hiring by the village and whether all new police and firefighters should be required to reside in Park Forest.
One challenger for trustee said a good way to help the village’s revenue would be to build a second smaller water plant and use it to produce bottled water for sale. Seriously.
The words “sustainability,” “water main replacement” and “declining population” were also bandied about.
The two candidates for library trustee had it easy. There was an opening statement by each, and one question was answered. No one asked what books they’ve read.