BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 15, 2026
There were 15 mourning doves huddling around my bird feeder. Whoops! Make that 14. In the blink of an eye, the birds exploded into the air and disappeared. Their instant panic could only mean one thing. They were under attack. I ran to the window just in time to spot the expected culprit — a Cooper’s hawk. Whenever we attract birds, we run the risk of attracting other birds that eat them. It’s inevitable that while we watch our birds, other critters are watching them, too. I’m aware I’m feeding more than just the birds. One odd set of footprints caught my eye this morning. I didn’t have to wait long before a snow-white ermine Squirrels are welcome to any seeds that reach the ground. I once thought I was merely feeding birds. Now I think I’m running a zoo. ~ Bob Duchesne