Ditch The Bulky Feeders: The Affordable Alternative That'll Keep Backyard Birds Happy

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If you're an armchair birder longing to see more feathered friends flock to your backyard, you might have thought about hanging or mounting feeders and have been perusing the wide design variety out there. When it comes to hanging or mountable ones, there's something for everyone, from chic modern feeders to novelty pagoda- or lighthouse-shaped feeders and tall cylinders with multiple perches. But have you considered a simple tray or platform? They're not as cute as many hanging designs, but they serve the same purpose, keep birds happy, and appear less bulky than some feeders, instead blending into the background. But the real point of a flat tray or platform feeder is to invite more bird species and mimic natural foraging. And, thankfully, many retail for a reasonable price. Take this Aelean Ground Bird Feeder Tray, which is currently $12.99 on Amazon.

The 8-inch-square tray is lightweight and constructed with black-finished metal mesh that's purportedly rust-resistant for outdoor use. One of its advantages is that it doesn't require assembly or installation of any sort. Instead, you rest it wherever you want on a flat surface, such as the ground, a tabletop, or the floor of a deck, patio, or porch. The Aelean feeder has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon based on 366 reviews (at the time of writing), with most stating that it's a good size, sturdy, and successfully attracts diverse birds and critters. But there are also some negative reviews that claim the wires around the edges not only stick out but are sharp, which can harm or injure birds. So, read the reviews and take a moment to compare this with similar products.

One reason why you might want to choose the Aelean Ground Bird Feeder Tray is that certain bird species — usually ground feeders and foragers such as doves, juncos, and towhees — are less agile or too large to eat from small and high perches, or hanging feeders that constantly sway. Stable and flat surface areas that trays like this offer, on the other hand, don't alienate the ground feeders and can attract all species, including the smaller songbirds. 

The bad news is that open trays are accessible to everything else that comes through your backyard. This can mean rodents, larger critters like raccoons, and pest, bully, or aggressive birds — including European starlings, grackles, hawks, pigeons, and house finches — that can overwhelm and drive away songbirds. Another problem with platforms and trays is the possibility of disease transmission: Since the birds are standing in the food supply and possibly dropping there as well, it can get unsanitary fast. Cleaning it often can help prevent the spread of disease, however. And finally, roofless feeders don't provide any rain or snow protection for the seeds, and this can lead to mold and bacterial growth. If, after all your research, you're not sold yet on any one type of feeder, consider implementing one of these foolproof ways to attract birds to your yard without a feeder.