You know, you are on to something there, Camille. A couple of months ago, I posted a photo of a squirrel baffle I made for our pole feeder, and its worked perfectly all winter! Not sure if PVC would be as effective, but what I did was use a section of galvanized 4 inch stove pipe.

Here's the link to the thread with pictures: Homemade squirrel baffle
You could do something similar, but just make a platform on the top, say 2 ft. by 2 ft. out of plywood. I'm not sure about whether Abi would use it, but it seems like he could figure it out. I would almost guarantee it will keep the squirrels out, provided you position it somewhere far enough away from any trees or anything else close enough where they could jump across or down to it.

The Squirrel is a very intelligent animal, as fast as mankind can think up a new bird feeder thats Squirrel proof the squirrel proves him wrong...

If you have time, when you see Abi, take your bowl of seed outside and have some Quality time with Abi, sit down and allow Abi to eat in peace, he will tell you when he's had enough and head for a drink of water.
maybe you could find time for 2 good feedings each day, this will also strengthen the bond between you two.
If you can put up a pole somewhere, it would have to be 20 ft away from all trees, fences, etc.
It would have to be fairly high up or as Nate and others have said place a collar (baffle) around the pole so the squirrels can't climb up.
Then its just an issue getting Abi to learn how to use the feeder.
I would really be sad if Abi left your kind ways because of this issue, honestly, it was your love that earned the relationship you now have, I feel it will be your love that will prevail.
Look for Abi, "as I know you do daily", grab the bowl of seed and head outside and sit down, call Abi and show him the bowl of seed, spend 15 minutes with your little friend, when he is done, he will head for a drink.
In the evening, do the same, Its sad that this is happening, but even the squirrels need to eat.
Abi is there with you due to your kind caring ways, seems now you need to protect those ways by going a step further, sad but maybe for the best.
Members still stop in now and then and post, spring is coming and I think many folks are spending more time outside now.
Or maybe they don't like me anymore...JK....
This forum isn't Arty's Forum, its for Doves and Pigeons and folks who enjoy the bird of peace.
I simply watch over the forum and do my best to get folks to post.
Hmmmmm and by the way...where have you been?????
I have missed you dearly?

BW

I have been sitting with Abi and his seed dish on an outside loveseat. He does eat next to me but the squirrels are not afraid of me and climb up the back of the chair to the top and sides and still scare Abi off. I used to handfeed two of the squirrels that is why they are not afraid of me. I just threw a bunch of seed on the grass and some of the squirrels eat there too. It seems the more food I put out the more wildlife it attracts. I now have these big mice that come out onto the patio during the day too and at night for the seed!
I had not been posting on the forum for a while because I had to have one of the co-ordinators reset my password for my user name Donna. He sent me a temporary password which I did not write down nor did I change it so I could and still cannot use that name to sign in. I had to go though alot of papers to find my password for DonnaLuvsAbi. So now I am back! I will try the pole thing for feeding Abi. Will let you know how it works out...until then I will tenaciously fight those little squirrels for Abi to get his feedings!
Thanx for the info Arty!

We all wish you good luck, The squirrels can jump, you would be amazed at how far they can jump.
Very determined little creatures...
Sooooo, Place the pole as far away from any object as you can.
The baffle is a great idea.
I thank everyone for helping Donna.

Thanx Quito for the info. I will have to make one soon...Abi's visits are becoming rare now since the squirrels have multiplied looking for his seed. Even sitting with him on a bench the squirrels jump up... they are not even afraid of me!

I just took some cute pics of Abi, he never showed up this morning for his breakfast and I just looked out and he was sleeping like a duck on my wicker loveseat cushion....how cute! I sat next to him and took 4 pics of him. For some reason they changed the format of photobucket to upload pics and the pics I just took will not upload ...anyone else having problems uploading pics into the new format of photobucket?

I am very happy to hear from you, Abi still comes to visit?
This is very good news.
I haven't tried photobucket in a long time.

Hi Arty, Nice to hear from you. Yes, Abi stops by between 9 am and 11am for feeding number one and later on between 4 and 6pm for his second one. He only stays to eat now and sometimes to chase the Morning Doves in the grass. He landed on my head for the first time in a long time last week. So I guess he still has a soft spot in his heart for me. I was checking on him the other day all morning till noon and did not see him...I forgot about him and an hour later noticed him laying like a duck sound asleep on my wicker loveseat outside my bedroom. He was waiting for me to come out and feed him. It was the cutest thing! I went out quietly and snapped some pics....but I was unable to upload my photos into Photobucket. They have changed their upload format that did not work for me. If I can eventually upload the pics I will post them! Hope you are doing good and the pigeons too!

Abi waiting for me to feed him!

Abi eating!

Abi with a full crop and cooing!

Just precious! Abi is so beautiful!