Slippery Slope

This is a view from 20' up in the air looking down on one of my bird feeders and the cable supporting it.  I developed this hanging approach (along with supposedly squirrel-proof feeders and squirrel baffle dome) as the best solution to keeping the unwanted critters from stealing all the birdseed.  And for the most part it has worked, at least slowing them down enough that the birds can get about a week of food before the thieves make off with the rest.    

Now for my latest addition to the design after recent raids on the feeder.  See the orange-ish tint on parts of the cable, which I lathered with auto grease to slow down the raccoons and squirrels.  I greased both the horizontal cables and the vertical one which hangs the feeder, plus the vertical brackets on the feeder itself.  I was pleased to see today that my greasy scheme has helped; there was more birdseed remaining than usual after one week, and there were several areas where the grease was rubbed off by something trying to navigate to the feeders.  I only wish I had been there to see whatever it was slip-sliding away to the ground.  Perhaps my next addition will be one of those motion-activated wildlife cameras to catch them in the act....