An Alberta couple adore watching chipmunks from their cabin in Vilna so much, they decided to create a special feeder for their furry friends.
“Chippy’s Bar and Grill” is popular for all the right reasons: great eats and just the right amount of seedy.
Eric and Janice Shilman were inspired after a friend sent them a picture of a similar customized feeder on Facebook.
Eric decided to build one himself.
“I’m kind of a handyman and I love doing carpentry work. It’s a hobby,” he said. “I’ve built different feeders for birds and stuff.”
“That’s the first bar and grill,” Janice added. “Other than that, it’s just regular feeders.”
The couple put the feeder outside, not knowing if the chipmunks would like it.
“We couldn’t believe it,” Eric said. “They actually sat on the stool. I didn’t think they would but they did. It’s really neat watching them.”
The pictures and videos they supplied clearly indicate the chipmunks are big fans.
Eric even built a customized chipmunk feeder for Lil, their cabin neighbour.
“Her grandson just loves watching the chipmunks when they come to our place, they’ve been feeding them there. So, he made one of those for her and it’s called ‘Lil’s Feed and Seed.'”
The reaction to Chippy’s from friends has been humorous.
“They want him to build a human one but they want wine instead of sunflower seeds,” Janice laughed.
For now, Eric, who’s retired, is thinking about building several cheeky feeders and seeing if there’s a market for them.