Shadow Tail Tables
Picnic Tables for Squirrels?
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What did the squirrels eat?
We added a small flower pot to feed our squirrels and filled it with dried fruit and nuts. We put a screw sticking up on the other table and put a corn cob on it. We hung one in the backyard and one outside my window. It took the squirrels about one day to find the feeders. They come and eat mostly in the morning.
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How long does it take to make a table?
Our first ones took us about 5 hours to make. That went pretty slow because we trying things out.
Now it takes an hour and a half... but it takes less time if we make several at a time. My Dad does the cutting on the saw and I measure, sand, drill, glue, and screw.
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What are you using to build the tables? ​
We are using recycled wood that we find or are donated. We have some redwood from an old playground, a wood bed frame, and kiddie chairs. We tried to use wood pallets but there were too many nails in them, and they are hard to take apart.
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Why are you building these tables?
We want to help other animals too so we are donating some of the money from our tables to the
Animal Rescue and Foster Program. We adopted our three cats from that shelter.
Do you like building with wood?
I don't know what else I would make with the wood. Maybe I would make a different kind of squirrel feeder
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Why are they called Shadow Tail Tables?
The Ancient Greek word for squirrel is skíouros and that means Shadow Tail.
We're not Greek though. But we have almost finished reading all of the Percy Jackson books.
About Amelia
Hi my name is Amelia. I love to do art, woodwork, ice skate and help animals.
I have 3 cats. I have an older sister When I grow up, I want to be an architect because I love to design things.
About Matt
Hi my name is Matt. I'm Amelia's Dad.
I love to make art, build things and hike. I used to be a middle school teacher. I loved working with kids and my classroom was usually organized chaos.
My artwork can be found at Fishworks Art on Instagram.
What's up with the squirrel picnic tables? ​
I've always wanted to do a science fair experiment about squirrel feeders and what they like to eat. I had been looking on the Internet for different types of squirrel feeders and saw picnic tables for squirrels. They were so cute!
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My Dad helped me make our first squirrel picnic tables. We made it using scrap wood in our shed. We had to find the right type of nails and screws at the store. Sometimes the screws were too long or too short. We nailed together the first table, but it wasn't right and the wood kept splitting, so we decided to use the drill and screws.