Chipmunk Visit

When my daughters were young, we had a favorite book called "The Chipmunk Song" (written by Joanne Ryder and illustrated by Lynne Cherry) that I read to them over and over.  The illustrations were gorgeous and the verse so lyrical and beautiful, we've all had a soft spot for chipmunks ever since. But, while there are copious amounts of squirrels hanging around the neighborhood, chipmunks aren't common in our area.

Then, a couple of years I caught a glimpse of a cute little chipmunk on the deck outside the kitchen window.  It was just a baby, really not more than a few inches long.  I was mesmerized watching him, nibbling at the fallen seeds on the deck from the bird feeder hanging in the lilac tree.  I told my husband and some neighbors about seeing him and no one believed me.  

Last summer I bought him peanuts and sunflowers seeds to entice him to visit. I filled a little red bowl, hoping to catch him and get a photo.  But, I just wasn't quick enough.  I'd grab my camera, yet each time, he'd get away and I'd be left with no proof of his existence.  I hadn't seen him for several months and figured he was either hibernating (do chipmunks hibernate??) or had left the neighborhood.

Then, when I was home on President's day, I saw him out the window, hanging from the lilac tree and eating from the bird feeder.  I'd caught squirrels hanging around before, but hadn't seen the chipmunk at the feeder.  I quickly got my camera and managed to get a couple photos.  Unfortunately, my dog Nikki was whining at the slider to get out and chase him off her property, so the chipmunk didn't hang out for long.

When I downloaded the photos I was surprised at how precarious his position is!
I don't know what is keeping him from falling! He sure is a cute little thing.