My wife does the bird feeders. After numerous attempts to thwart the squirrels- I kept score, it was MacGiver 0 squirrels 274- she found the solution. I wish I had more techy skills so I could post a pic. The feeders are on a rope hanging from a tree limb. Between the feeder and the tree are 3 old 78 vinyl records attached to the rope. Squirrel climbs down the rope and slips off the records, can't get to the feeders. They end up cleaning many of the numerous pine cones all over the ground. Problem solved, help cleaning up yard.
...........al