I find them to be more entertaining than the squirrels. Maybe it is because the squirrel and I don't see eye-to-eye on who the bird seed is for. Thank goodness for the Droll Yankee Squirrel Busters! (Watch the videos on how well they work! Hilarious!!!)
Not long actually. There are several of us who fed them through the winter just tossing seed and stuff out. Also saved one of the little guys through one of our heavy rain storms last year. They are pretty social.