Squirrels defeated !

[readcjr]

Hello again from a newbie - only my second post, but encouraged I thought I'd try another.

I was surprised not to find more threads on bird feeder anti-squirrel devices (maybe it's old-hat and it's all been said before) - but here goes!

I hope this doesn't sound too difficult, the principle is simple, the detail just needs fine tuning to suit.

You'll need two high fixing points, one is my house, the other a tall tree. (Ladders required and helping hand).

Go to fishing tackle shop, buy cheapest monofilament nylon line - I use 40lb breaking strain, which lasts about a year before breaking.

Tie line at one high point using whatever method is easiest and run the other end of the line through a vine-tie (or such like) at other high point and then fasten line to something at ground level. This allows you to lower/raise and tension the line without further need for ladder.

Attach a vertical hanging line to the lowered support line using whatever clips/attachments that make it easy to connect the line and feeder.

Raise the support line to appropriate height (a big, full, feeder will take a lot of pulling up) and fasten.

As long as the distance from the supporting tree is sufficient to clear the feeder from overhanging branches the squirrels, in my experience of 5 years of this method, will not get onto the feeder. They haven't risked/or can't get along the very thin nylon line. It's high and they clearly do not like the drop.

At a glance you will have a feeder floating in mid-air!

TIP
1. With a bit of trial and error I have got the horizontal line tension, and the length of the vertical hanging line adjusted so that I can un-hook the feeder without the need to lower the whole thing - much easier.

2. After a couple of incidents of the nylon line 'breaking'?? at the tree end I suspected a squirrel had discovered the line and bitten through it. If this happens use a few feet of thin wire between the tree and the nylon.

Birds United 6 - Squirrel Athletic 0

Happy days...........

Colin

[Blackbrook Eye]

Have you never experienced incidents of birds accidentally flying into the line, as surely it is almost invisible to them when flying at speed ?

[Chrisg]

Simpler to set up all-be-it more expensive is a tilting baffle fitted to a pole with the feeder above the baffle. This has managed to evade the squirrels in my garden for a couple of years now.

ChrisG

[readcjr]

Hello,
Regarding birds flying into line.. no, never any evidence of that. The line is visible - especially the 40 lb breaking strain I use. The birds do attempt to perch on it, albeit not very successfully.

The other anti-squirrel method mentioned in the replies, I'm not familiar with but get the basic idea.

Also I find lawn mowing a bore, so I avoid having things on lawn to mow around - I have all my bird feeders including bird table suspended in various ways.

Cheers

Colin

[ron1863]

Would it not be simpler just to put out extra food for the squirrels and save yourself the bother

[Blackbrook Eye]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Would it not be simpler just to put out extra food for the squirrels and save yourself the bother

It certainly would Ron, but more food usually means even more squirrels

[clover green]

What an ingenious idea, readcjr?