True Bird Brains

There are widely varying perspectives on the reported intelligence of the squirrel. Some attribute great cleverness and inventiveness to these pests. I wonder. In fact, I suspect that the real "bird brains" at my feeders are possessed not by the birds, but at the other visitors to the feeders. Case in point: the bonehead shown in the photograph has been assaulting this wonderful feeder (sold by our friends at Duncraft) for many months. It has never breached the feeder. Ever. And yet seemingly daily it tries again. And again. And again. A never ending cycle of absolute futility. This is not intelligence: it is bullheaded trial-and-error persistence with no adjustment for improvement. When humans do this, they are suspected of at least an eccentricity. But I'll take it: the longer they waste on unproductive attacks, the less of my birdseed they eat!