Wild birds and squirrels: friends by necessity

There is a definite symbiosis between these two totally different species. Squirrels are terrestrial and arboreal animals that thrive in forest, urban, and suburban settings that contain edible trees such as pines, oaks, and walnuts. They are world-class acrobats with a talent for climbing trees and branches with dexterity and speed.

On the other hand, birds are mostly sky pilots, but can sometimes be found on the ground. The ground is a very dangerous place for a little bird. That’s where our furry friends come in. Squirrels are highly perceptive of the slightest changes in smells, movement, and sounds in their environment. Birds rely on their tree climbing friends to keep them informed of dangerous situations before they turn deadly.

And then you have sharp-eyed birds that know when a flying predator is around. If you’ve ever seen birds at the feeder suddenly fly in all directions and stay hidden for some time, then you may have witnessed a hawk hunting nearby without even realizing it. Squirrels notice this rapid disappearance of birds because they are just as vulnerable from the sky as they are from the ground.

Animals that eat squirrels include hawks, coyotes, weasels, minks, foxes, wild dogs, and wild cats. The same predators also find the birds very tasty. It is up to birds and squirrels to “watch their backs,” so to speak; survival depends on this association.

Birds tend to be messy eaters. They scatter uneaten birdseed here and there. But nature does not waste food. You can often see squirrels and birds feeding on the ground next to each other under their feeders. I have rarely seen one chase another away. If I was a bird, I wouldn’t want to offend my bodyguard and vice versa!

Take a look at the trees on a late fall or winter day. You will see the remains of squirrel nests, which are made of leaves. They usually build these nests several times during the year. But once the cold and nasty weather hits, they seek shelter inside a nice cozy hole in a tree. That is where they also prefer to raise their young.

Like fallen birdseed, those leafy nests don’t go to waste. Birds use them during cold winter nights. The birds can snuggle between the leaf bags to keep their body warm until the sun warms them in the morning.

I have seen several birds hide seeds under chunks of bark so they can come back later for a snack. Meanwhile, our fearless and opportunistic squirrels can’t bear to pass up a free meal. They watch the birds very closely and often steal that snack for themselves.

Both birds and squirrels depend on tree bark insects for their livelihood. In the spring when they are both raising their young, they need to provide protein for strong bones and good development. If a squirrel notices that woodpeckers are working in a particular spot on a dead branch, for example, you can be sure that he himself will jump in for a little ‘look-see’!

It is a beneficial alliance between squirrels and our backyard birds. The next time you see one of those pesky acrobatic squirrels in your feeder, remember that they are protective for birds and that it works both ways.