@loribmt, @artscaping, and all...Lori, I was horrified at the sight of a chipmunk chowing down on one of my precious birds. Poor babies have a tough life fighting for survival against...hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, etc., even bluejays, regular mammal hunters, human hunters, infections, lessening natural foods, and windows! Decals do help...

Chippies are not so cute anymore. I thought they were nut and berries eaters. Pooh.

I just got some spray rat/rodent deterrent I'm putting in select areas inside my home and around the windows, fence, soffits, etc outside. I'll report on its efficacy. If it works, it deters and doesn't kill, and is safe for cats/dogs/children. Don't know about it or about true safety, but will report on that. I also put out some poison on the patio and in the shrubs. I'm determined to get the rats gone for sure. The experts have stopped after putting black boxes outside around our building, inside the attics, and huge traps in the attics, too. We don't have them scurrying in the walls and ceilings, at least I don't have those issues now. What a trip this has been, over a year struggling with this infestation, fighting with the board to get help and repair the soffit holes, and a company to fight for us. They stepped on a water pipe in the attic flooding several condos. Not mine, thankfully. Walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, and cabinets were all damaged and replaced. Now, they're suing the contractor who was allowed to work without proper licensure and did a lousy job. These single women with young children have had tough several months, now facing lawsuits to get reimbursement, etc. Bad oversight!

Have lots of birds again, finally. It's taken me several weeks to get the feeders clean and up and keep them filled. Low ferritin, etc. makes any of these duties tough but I'm doing it better now. Taking an anemia supplement and eating so much steak and spinach while waiting for help from someone.

Pileated woodpeckers, red-headed and downy woodpeckers, and chickadees. cardinals families, finch, sparrows, squirrel families, house finch, and other now regulars. I'm a happy bird lady.

Blessings to all. Elizabeth