This is not about Flying Squirrels. It is about flying Red Squirrels, at least one very determined squirrel in particular.
We have a Droll Yankee “Flipper” that discourages squirrels from stealing the sunflower seeds we want to feed to the birds. The chickadees, in particular, seem to toss one or two seeds on the ground for each one they carry away. So wasteful, but it keeps the squirrels happy.
This feeder has a motor that will spin the perch and toss the squirrel off. It works great for gray squirrels since they are heavy enough to activate it. One attempt and they are tossed. Lesson learned. Fast and complete negative reinforcement.
However, red squirrels are not heavy enough to reliably trigger it. So they can eat some seeds before they shift their weight just right (or wrong) to trigger it. They get tossed, but since they got some positive reinforcement before the negative, they are tempted to try again. At least one very hungry or determined one did yesterday during the snowstorm.
I happened to glance out my ground floor office mostly-glass door and saw a red squirrel twirling around and around hanging onto the feeder perch. But before I could grasp my camera, the squirrel released. I got a few shots as is wiggled on the ground dizzy from the ride. It was fine. After a few seconds it stood up and scampered off into the woods to warn its family and friends about the evil device.
I figured maybe I should watch and see if this event repeated. Sure enough, after some minutes a second red squirrel decided to give it a try. It perched successfully as the snow came down harder.
Then the spinner started to spin, but the squirrel held on and managed to stop it by putting one foot on the stationary part. GOOD SAVE.
But it was soon to be spun and tossed. Here is goes.
Not at all discouraged, it came back. Notice how it holds onto the stationary part with one leg.
But its success was short lived. It went for a great ride a few minutes later.
Still this red squirrel persisted. It was either very hungry or very determined. I managed to photograph its next ride with both a camera set up with a long lens, though not to freeze motion, and a hand-held camera with a wider lens. Here we go.
The squirrel hung on a long time. When it finally let go it flopped around on the ground, not dead but dizzy. Soon it was up. It did not try again.
This is the only time I have seen this event. I wonder if the snow contributed. It was a fun experience.