Bird Feeder Types: Bowl & Platform Bird Feeders
Bowl, platform or tray birdfeeders attract the greatest variety of birds and are the simplest birdfeeders to maintain. The types of birds you wish to attract are dependent on the height of the platform and the bird seed and protection you provide the birdfeeder. Keeping seeds dry with a roof or dome cover will attract the widest variety of seed-eating birds such as starlings, sparrows, grosbeaks and titmice. Placing the platform birdfeeder near the ground will attract juncos, mourning doves, blue jays and pigeons.
Maintenance of your platform or bowl feeder is essential to the success of your birdfeeder. Tray feeders offer no protection against rain or snow if no dome or roof is provided, therefore excellent drainage is needed to keep seeds dry. Wet seeds can sprout or foster fungal and bacterial growth, putting your feathered friends at risk for disease. Good drainage is just one piece of the maintenance puzzle however. Consistent cleaning of your platform birdfeeder is also needed. Only offer enough bird feed for birds to finish in a day or two and shake out the bottom of the birdfeeder before each refill. The bottom of the platform birdfeeder should also be removed and hosed off frequently to remove bird droppings left by feeding birds.
Platform birdfeeders are at the greatest risk for squirrel invasion. To avoid squirrels and chipmunks from eating all of your birdseed, consider putting your platform birdfeeder on a pole or suspension chain.
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