Never Seen This Before.

[Daisy M]

Taking shots of one of the reds in the garden when it started licking the Birch, I presume the sap is rising and it was drinking it?

Unusual Habit by David Miller, on Flickr

Licking tree by David Miller, on Flickr

[Trev B]

Well caught David, yes rising sap on the Silver Birch, have seen Grey's' doing it where there is a bleed. Hopefully they are not 'stripping' it.

[antoeknee]

Interesting behaviour and not something I've witnessed. Good capture.

[Farider]

Very well spotted and taken David, wouldn’t have occurred to me that they might do this.

Ian

[MTLSTEVE]

These behaviours are quite common. Squirrels primarily drink water to stay hydrated and they'll get it from wherever they can. However, they also need nutrients including glucose and electrolytes including potassium. Professor Anton Carlson suggests that animals have an inbuilt mechanism telling them when they are lacking in a particular nutrient and subsequently some idea what to eat to correct this imbalance. The sap is an easy option because it's generally reliable and only requires the animal to expend minimum effort for maximum reward. Biologists have also concluded that with small food items such as nuts, the cost of moving out-weighs the value of the food.

[Bill53]

Well captured David.

[Daisy M]

These behaviours are quite common. Squirrels primarily drink water to stay hydrated and they'll get it from wherever they can. However, they also need nutrients including glucose and electrolytes including potassium. Professor Anton Carlson suggests that animals have an inbuilt mechanism telling them when they are lacking in a particular nutrient and subsequently some idea what to eat to correct this imbalance. The sap is an easy option because it's generally reliable and only requires the animal to expend minimum effort for maximum reward. Biologists have also concluded that with small food items such as nuts, the cost of moving out-weighs the value of the food.

After 20 years of having reds in the garden, it might be common to you, but I have never seen it before.

[Trev B]

After 20 years of having reds in the garden, it might be common to you, but I have never seen it before.

David it’s not common.

[Colin W]

Nice photo David, I have not seen that colour before.