My wife gets great pleasure out of watching her bird feeders that are just outside the window

[Chainfire]

from where we spend the most of a typical day. She buys Black Oil Sunflower seeds by the 40 pound bag. This year, we have a bumper crop of squirrels who love the seeds. I don't begrudge the squirrel's a meal, but they can eat Sunflower seeds at a rate that we can't afford to supply.

We have had the Yankee bird feeders for years and the squirrels have figured out a half dozen ways of defeating the feeders. Two of these feeders are mounted on a substantial steel pole. Yesterday, for kicks and giggles I greased the pole and the results were hilarious. (for about an hour) That is how long it took the rodents to figure out that they could climb an adjacent feeder and leap to the top of the Yankee feeders and use their old tricks to avoid the bird perch that triggers the spinning of the feeder. It is entertaining until all of the squirrels have had a go at it a few times. Anyone who doesn't believe that squirrels aren't clever is just not paying attention.

If you are not familiar with the Yankee feeders, do an online search, the ads are good for a giggle.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. A friend of mine used Vaseline, LOL! It did work since she only had the one feeder/pole.

[AllaN01Bear]

2. where i lived as a kid , in our back yard , we had a small veggie garden.(too early to spell, half awake),

we deliberatly put in sunflowers for the birds . however , i liked to watch them track the sun.

[Laurelin]

3. I had squirrel proof feeders from Wild Birds Unlimited

They mostly worked. One squirrel managed to get some seed, but not much.

We've only had one squirrel at our feeder since we moved to the Netherlands. It was the cutest thing: small, black with tufts of hair on its ears. I'd be thrilled if we got them up our feeders.

[electric_blue68]

4. 🤔 Put Vaseline on the top of the adjacent feeder?

[Dave in VA]

5. Racoon baffle

Google it. If you or someone you know can make one they work great for us. Stove pipe works if you can put a cap on it.
Good luck!

[Rizen]

6. Someone I work for always has me fill the bird feeders.

They also get squirrels. There's hot pepper suet cakes that squirrels don't like you can feed birds.