Squirrel or Blue Jay, Which Are You?

Every morning I scatter a big container of birdseed and a whole bunch of unshelled peanuts for my animal/bird guests.

The Blue Jays and the squirrels always get there first and snatch up all the peanuts. Neither eats this treat on site but rather fly off or scamper somewhere else to enjoy it.

Today I noticed that the squirrels simply pick up a peanut, shell a tiny portion to make sure it really has a nut in it, and take off.

On the other hand, the Blue Jays pick up each peanut, shake it, visibly weigh it and compare the quality to nearby peanuts before choosing one. They never open it, just assess by the weight and feel of the product.

Seeing this, I am starting to wonder whether I am a Blue Jay or a squirrel in my daily life. Do I stop to assess and choose the best person, place, or thing to have in my life or do I pick up the first, look at it for a short bit, and take it home as mine?

I hate to say it, but I think I lean towards being a squirrel (though I would much rather be a Blue Jay).

At least this is how it feels on this cloudless 32-degree morning here in Central NJ, USA on the day before Turkey Day.

What is your style? And do your backyard birds and squirrels act in the same nutty way as mine?

Judy Shepps Battle is a New Jersey resident, addictions specialist, consultant and freelance writer. Her weekly column "It Takes a Village" appeared in the South Brunswick Patch for a year. She can be reached by e-mail at writeaction@aol.com. Additional information on this and other topics can be found at her website at http://www.writeaction.com/.

copyright 2012 Judy Shepps Battle