Squirrels at feeder

 I added a PVC pipe to the pole holding the feeder. It does stop the squirrels from climbing. So they jump from the lilacs. It also makes a good support for your foot while you work through the seeds in the bottom tray. The grey phase black squirrel below is giving the PVC a look but it uses the tree access point as well. Basically the feeder is empty and it is cleaning up around the base. Most of our Eastern Grey Squirrels are black as seen in the top photo, but we occasionally get these grey brown squirrels with white bellies, their markings are beautiful. My buddy Doug who lives in south Calgary by Fish Creek Park noticed they have fewer squirrels at the feeders now. He thinks this is because they now have bobcats. With the dogs I would rather have squirrels.

"Deer walk upon our mountains, and the quail 

Whistle about us their spontaneous cries; 

Sweet berries ripen in the wilderness;"

from Sunday Morning

by Wallace Stevens 

And here we have squirrels.