We have a squirrel baffle, so no idea how well this keeps squirrels away. What I like about it is that it does a pretty good job keeping the seeds dry and flowing. We purchased the shield for the top, which helps too. The feeder has drains on the bottom, and vents at the top so any dampness of the seeds dries quickly when the sun shines on it. The recessed feeder ports helps keep the seeds dry. It also limits how much seed birds can toss out looking for their preferred seeds. Instead they check several ports to find what they are looking for. Chickadees, nuthatches, gold finches, juncos all love it. Even the occasional blue bird checks it out, not sure what they eat from the mixed seeds. The cardinals took a while to get used to it, even with the cardinal ring to sit on. Usually the male uses the feeder and the female eats under it (the male sometimes feeds her, which is cute). Jays don't feed on it. They are pretty birds but go through a lot of seeds, so I have mixed feelings on that. They will eat the seeds on the ground. Crows can't feed as they are to heavy, so they just check what they can find on the ground.

Superb bird feeder in preventing squirrels from accessing. But from the day I hung the feeder in tree where my old one was, my birds vanished! I used to have a cacophony of bird sounds all day long. Gone. The cardinals didn't even go to the platform feeder, which is 2 feet away. After 2 weeks of nothing but tiny birds, I put my old feeder out. All my regular birds returned. If I have to choose between birds & squirrels and no birds & no squirrels, I'll chose the former. As a squirrel proof feeder, it's 5 stars. But there's a downside.

I received my squirrel buster last week. I temporarily tied the perch off until I see which birds go to the feeder. Birds are just now using the feeder. For first time the blackbirds the trying to eat at the feeder. Not good. I am going to unlock my temporary hold the feeder to see if it drops down when blackbirds sit on the perch. I have a cardinal fly through feeder and bird bath I bought from Duncraft and I am happy with them also. I had to put a plastic plate in the bird bath because I could not keep the original bottom from getting yucky and slimy. It works great because I can take the plastic tray out and wash it nice and clean. You may want to think about adding a plastic removable tray to your bird bath to make it easier to clean.

This feeder definitely keeps the squirrels away, but the birds do not like it. The seeds seem to be difficult to get to. The feeder is expensive and I’m very disappointed.

This feeder is amazing! Bears have taken it down, ripped it open, scattered parts at least 4 times. Each time I pick up the pieces, put it back together and hang it up again. This last time, he/she separated the plastic tube, but a little Gorilla Glue and I swear, it's good as new! Well worth the money I invested! Thank you!