Squirrels in Macadamia Tree

I've got a macadamia tree in the front yard. I've read that I shouldn't pick nuts from the tree, but instead wait for them to fall to ensure they're ripe. We harvested a lot of nuts that way for a year or two, but after squirrels discovered the tree, no intact nuts ever hit the ground. Just husks. We're willing to share with the squirrels, but it would be nice to get a few macadamias for ourselves. Does anyone have any experience harvesting macadamias directly from the tree?

Squirrels are difficult. Almost easier to put up a metal barrier on the tree to see if that will stop them from climbing. You could harvest from the tree, the hard part is trying to wait long enough that they ripen, but before they fall and they usually don't store well.

I like the idea of the metal barrier, we're putting up some aluminum flashing along the top of the fence at my community garden to keep the ground squirrels and mice out.

Do a Google search for "tree baffle" you might find something that works - though if the canopy is close enough to any other trees you'd just have to baffle those too. Curious to hear what you come up with and if it works! 🤞