The goldfinch feeder is still intact and even though the occasional squirrel comes to check it out, it is for the most part left to the goldfinches.

Empowered by this small victory, I suggest that we try putting in more poles for feeders. We've read that a feeder must be 6 feet off the ground or the squirrels will simply jump up on it. They also say to place it 6 feet from any tree or bush to protect the birds from cats and such.

Unfortunately we missed the part about the pole being all metal (and shiny and smooth at that). This pole was part metal and part wood. Remember that cedar feeder? Well, in no time at all, the squirrels were up that pole and munching away. Only coming down when either the feeder was emptied or when another squirrel decided it was his turn.

Hubby is unwilling to allow defeat of rodent over man. I’m beginning to think this has turned into a game. I suggest that perhaps having wood on the pole was not a good idea. A purely smooth metal pole would not allow the squirrels a foothold. Hubby desperate for anything to save face in battle of squirrel over man, decides maybe I’m right. However, he is unwilling to spend $30 on one of those overpriced bird feeder poles “that probably cost $1.25 to make”. So off to Home Depot he goes and comes back with a 4 foot length of metal stove piping. He slips this over the old pole and sits back to enjoy his success.

“They’re supposed to be 6 feet or the squirrels can jump.” I say warrily, “Aren’t you worried about the other 2 feet of exposed pole?” “They didn’t come in 6 foot lengths,” he said. “I’d have had to get 8 foot and cut it off” “Lets just see how this works” he adds.

Well, it didn’t take hubby too long before hubby is back at the store buying another length of pipe. This one is 2 inches less in diameter, so he slips it inside the first one and connects it to the original pole. So we have a pole in stove pipe in a stove pipe. It’s kinda dorky looking, but I have to admit it seems to be working.