Why we have bird seed

This is why we go to all the trouble with the bird sed and the "Bear Proof Bird Feeder"

How strong is that bear?

Ok, I now have it all figured it out.  The bear could not get to the "Bear Proof Bird Feeder", he got the Raccoon to take out one bucket of seed.  He then dragged the other bucket 200 feet into the woods.  He did not get any seed.  So then he went out to the road to trash the trash!!

The bear was cranky over the bird feeders

You can tell if it's a raccoon or a bear. If it's a raccoon the corner of the trashcan is pulled up a little. If it's a bear, the trashcan is 50 feet from where you left it

Dad Helping with the cleanup

Bear Proof Bird Feeder - Survived the BIG Bear

Many of you have heard my stories of the  bears wreaking the bird feeders.  Then I built the “Bear Proof Bird Feeder”.  It has been up for 4 years and the bears never got a single seed. Until...

Here are the hanging feeders

The picture above shows the swing arm with the hanging feeders, you can also see the squirrel dome.  The arm is 8 feet off the deck.  The feeds hang out over the edge of the deck, 25 feet to the ground!! Last week during NAB Olive call in a panic, "there is a BIG bear on the deck and he's breaking the feeders.  The whole deck and house are shaking".

I clamped a piece of wood to the support

Sure enough one of the feeders was missing. I first noticed the arm was closer to the trees, than when we left for NAB.

Then it was the OH MY GOD moment.  The bear had twisted the steel uni-strut.

I clamped a piece of wood to the side to show how much the bear had twisted the vertical support.  That piece of wood WAS parallel to the railing of the deck!!! It's a good 20 degrees of twist!!

I found the missing feeder and it's parts and snapped them back together.  All is better!!

The Bear Proof Bird Feeder - WORKS!

(scroll down to the pictures of the SMALL bear)

Our Last Day in AZ

Front Entrance 

These are a few pictures of our last day in New River AZ.  We needed to return early from our vacation.

Liz wanted to light the gas fire in the table - that was a good idea except it was 90 degrees outside!! 

View into the house from outside

The horse out front 

Sunset Monday evening

From the dining area to the outside

Another Sunset

Sunday

Today we visited friends in Cave Creek - they had a Segway!! 

Saturday - A DInner and a Show

 Here are a couple of pictures from the front of the house.

We went to dinner at the Road Runner Steak House.  It was dinner and a double show, it was a GREAT biker bar. When we pulled up front and see a REAL Hummer, I knew it was gonna be good.

Then we learn that at 8:30 they will have live bull riding!