I sure wish several years ago I had posted about wanting a robot vacuum cleaner and ask you what you thought. If I had, I'd have gotten Rosie years ago. Thank you for all you informative and positive comments.
Just to let you know I still love her but realize she is a bit of a practical joker. I was in the bathroom wondering why it was quite a bit cooler than the rest of the house. Not a thing you want when you are all wet.
By accident, I glanced at my floor register and saw it was totally shut. That little rascal Rosie with her determined wheels had somehow closed the vent tight. I was getting zero heat.
Now that I know what she is capable of, I have to go behind her and check the registers. Still not a high price to pay for clean floors.
As for the bad birds you would think I had learned that they all come with different personalities kind of like we do.
There are the timid birds that are chased from the feeder by just a leaf blowing. There are the ones that are willing to graze under the feeder for any fallen seeds. I do like the tidy ones. There are the fearless little guys that don't seem the least bit impressed with the larger birds and will push in to get their share.
Then there are the bullies. I don't know why I am always amazed at this type of behavior in a wild creature but even after years of watching the aggressive hummingbirds at war over the nectar, I am a bit surprised when a Cardinal will totally rule the feeder. Ninety percent of the Cardinals show great table manners, then there is Big Momma. Yep a female.
Most all the others will grab one seed and go to a nearby tree to crack it open. She will stand in the middle of the seeds and leisurely eat one after another. Any bird that tries to land gets chased by angry bird. Wonder if it is an inherited trait from a bully parent or a learned trait?
Good thing I have two feeders. She can't rule both and I rap on the window periodically to chase her off or I would only have one morbidly obese Cardinal.
Oh well, I guess the wild creatures aren't much different from us are they?
1 year ago
It really would be boring if all thought and acted the same.
ReplyDeleteWould be nice if the differences didn't lead to anger and fighting though.
Olga,
DeleteYou bet, the ugly behavior could go and not hurt much
Rosie is a determined little thing, isn't she? That cardinal sounds like some people I know. :-)
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteIsn't it the truth? Sadly I think we all know someone like that.
I love that you go Rosie. I am still holding out and everyone is telling to get one so I don't have to vacuum up my hardwoods daily from dog hair. I fear a random door bell if I haven't vacuumed yet. Hmm,Rosie is looking good.
ReplyDeletePeggy,
DeleteHa ha, I too have had those door bell quick checks. I don't worry now.
Don't have a 'Rosie' yet... but it's an interesting idea. As for the birds, I learned a long time ago when raising budgies and finches that they definitely have their own personalities... but I do think that some breeds tend to be more aggressive.
ReplyDeleteRian.
DeleteI know. Some of the smaller birds handle the feeders quite well, eating side by side. I knew hummers were grouchy but this is the first time I have seen a female Cardinal get physical.
As I was reading this I decided I should get a Rosie after I get the carpeting cleaned in the spring. Doe it tell you when it needs to be emptied? What model is she, there are several aren't there?
ReplyDeleteThe pecking order of birds is fascinating but you have be retired with the time to watch to understand it. Here, it's the Blue Jays that rule and Cardinals are rare.
Jean R,
DeleteRosie is an Ilife V3Pro. Actually a cheaper one but she is good on bare floors. Not sure how she would do with carpet. You might have to go Roomba. I empty her every time I run her for the bin is small and I have a lot of pet hair. It is simple to do. Good luck.
Good to know. Thanks.
DeleteI've been noticing during winter here that the hummingbirds have gotten very, very territorial. There's always some feathery ruckus going on out by the feeder. Ah well, it is a world of competition, isn't it. Glad Rosie is working our so well for you!
ReplyDeleterobin,
ReplyDeleteOh yes those hummers,especially the males, were born to fight. They use up so much energy with their squabbles.
Glad you are enjoying the new addition to your family.
ReplyDeleteFun60
DeleteOh I am thank you. She does the job but also makes me smile and sometimes down right laugh.
I have a male cardinal bully...some of the little finches fly right back when he chases them off. They hide on the opposite side of the feeder until he realizes they are there. They go around and around like a merry-go-round. I have feeders on 3 sides of the house so that makes it easy for more birds to be able to eat without being chased off. That Rosie now that was just not nice of her to close off your heat. You better keep an eye on her at all times. lol Hugs
ReplyDeleteMaggie,
DeleteFortunately the two feeders are working for she can't guard both.
Rosie may have a sinister side. For now I am thinking accident.
Glad to hear the two feeders are working out.
DeleteThat's so funny that Rosie can shut off the heat registers. More powerful than expected.
ReplyDeleteYes, the birds are such fun to watch because of all the different personalities. I never get tired of watching them. :)
Rita,
DeleteYes, it helps now that I am retired to have the time to watch their behavior. They truly are individuals.
Does Jenny Craig have a bird feed program?
ReplyDeletejoeh,
DeleteHa ha, she will need one. She is really getting plump.
That's what I love about birds. They are so entertaining. I sometimes think about them as if grade school was getting out and you see all the different personalities in the children and how they behave. Some you want to protect them and others you want to give a knuckle wrap.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
DeleteYou are so right. Mainly they entertain but that knuckle rap sounds like a good idea sometimes. I do a version of that on the window to scare her off. Temporary fix.
No pets, no pet hair, no Rosie here. Funny about the vents. Rosie is strong.
ReplyDeleteBird behavior is interesting.
Some snatch and flit, some come and sit.
Linda R,
DeleteAnd you have a great hubby that manhandles the regular vacuum. Lucky you.
Your last sentence sums it up nicely.
The bullies at my feeders are the starlings. They come in across the border in gangs and take over the feeders to include the suet cages and no other bird dares to come near. They don't even redeem themselves by looking pretty or singing a song. Just come and take and expect more. I chase them off, but they come back again and again. I also had a Mourning Dove, a bird supposedly known for its gentleness, take over a feeder and would not allow any of the other Mourning Doves in. She wasn't concerned about any of the other birds. But I am well trained to keep the feeders full for everyone.
ReplyDeleteSnickelfritz,
DeleteAww, I am so sorry to hear about the aggressive Dove. I do love them for their gentleness. Guess even the gentle can get an attitude.
One of my sons surprised me with one of those cute robot vacuums like you have, they are little work horses. I named mine Ruth.
ReplyDeleteTerra,
DeleteWhat a great gift from your son. And yes, they really do the job and make me smile.
Now, I am feeling bad that I haven't given my little robot a proper name! :~/ It would be wise, if one were a bird coming to our feeders, to be wary, for there's a hawk that comes around waiting for an opportunity to nab one. I have moved the feeders to a more protected place and quite close to one of the oak trees that keeps its leaves until spring, so that seems to have helped.
ReplyDeleteChip Butter,
DeleteWell the name is fun but she still doesn't come when called.
I have mine slightly under the eve on my porch. Makes a mess but makes it hard for a predator to nab one.
Are birds the only species that show greed apart from humans?
ReplyDeleteRiver,
DeleteInteresting thought. They are the only ones I have been able to watch up close.
Now I want a robot. Do they do well on both hard floors and carpet, I wonder - must look it up. But then again - I do have Bob who runs the sweeper. Even Nature has bullies!
ReplyDeleteBarb,
DeleteStick with Bob. He doesn't need recharging.
Mine doesn't do as well on carpets but they do make them that do.
I have considered a Rosie of my own, but the price intimidated me. The thought of an obese Cardinal made me giggle.
ReplyDeleteInger,
DeleteThat obese Cardinal evidently went somewhere quiet to explode. Haven't seen the bully in a while.
You have stirred us all up. I too have wanted one but can't justify getting one. No more birdfeeders here either. Tho we loved ours, It made horrific messes. Double darn.
ReplyDeleteMage,
DeleteKnow what you mean. It is snowing now and the porch is a horrific mess with all the seed shells and droppings. I hope it just doesn't freeze that way.
Your last paragraph is so true. We all show our "wild" side at times. My big bully bird is a Bluejay.
ReplyDeleteGinnie,
DeleteShe even ran off a huge Bluejay but someone must have gotten to her as she has been missing in action for a few days.
Dear Patti, I read both this posting and the earlier one in which you introduced us to Rosie. Thank you. The thing if that I live with three cats--one of them long-haired--and I, like you, dislike vacuuming. Moreover, given the back surgery, even though it's nearly two years now, I find my back aching whenever I do vacuum. So the wall-to-wall carpeting has a lot of cat hair on it as to the throw rugs that decorated the gray wall-to-wall.
ReplyDeleteSo I am so happy that you have shared your buying of the IlifeV3Pro. I'm now seriously considering doing the same. I've never thought about doing so, but you've been the catalyst to my wanting to have a clearer looking home! thank you again. Peace.
We have song birds here, and some falcons and ravens. I wish we had the cardinals here. I would set out bird seed just for them.
ReplyDeleteYou have a Rosie?
Very attractice bug you had. Did you ever participate in a bug run? I never knew such events occurred until with my Dtr and her then boyfriend who was a German car fan. We were on an L.A. fwy, saw VWs whizzing all around us and he said, “Oh look! It’s a bug run!” A fun recreational event he said.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that Rosie ran over the register apparently instead of going around. Perhaps some vertical item at the register’s edge that Rosie bumped into would train her to go around.
Joared,
DeleteNever did go on a bug run though would have loved to. I never miss a bug show. Real beauties there.
As for Rosie, I watched her the other day and her wheels spin the gear that usually is there for your foot to open or close the register. Don't know if she knew I was watching but she went over it again and opened it up slick as could be.
I don't mind. Now that I know her tricks, I just go behind her.
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ReplyDeleteHere in Hawaii, we see mynah birds as the aggressive ones. I’ve only seen hummingbirds twice in Illinois and I’m not even sure they actually were hummingbirds. Maybe they were moths. I think it’s so neat that you get to see them all the time.
ReplyDelete