Birds of West Cobb
Are you shopping for a Platform-style Bird Feeder? Many birds prefer an open plate or tray for ease-of-access
Whether it's Carolina Chickadees or Blue Jays, many species of backyard birds enjoy a plate or tray style feeder so they can drop in, grab a seed or a mealworm, and then quickly depart. platform-style bird feeders are great! Just be sure to include an appropriate baffle below so you can avoid damage from Squirrels, Raccoons or other rodents.
Netvue Birdfy has led the way in sales, bird recognition, and options for add-ons. Clearly the market leader, The positive reviews on multiple platforms is a great indicator that the Netvue Birdfy
The BirdBuddy Smart Feeder is another great option
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Platform and Tray-Style Feeders
Open platform feeders — also called tray feeders — are the most welcoming feeder you can put in your yard. Because there's no tube, port, or perch to squeeze through, they let in the widest range of birds, including the ground-feeders that skip tube feeders entirely.
What a platform feeder brings in
Because it's wide open, a tray feeder attracts birds that prefer to feed flat:
- Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves, and Blue Jays
- Eastern Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos (winter), and native sparrows
- Brown Thrashers (Georgia's state bird) and American Robins
- Chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers dropping in from nearby feeders
What to put on it
A platform feeder is the most flexible feeder you own — it holds almost anything:
- A quality mixed seed or black-oil sunflower (see our guide to what birdseed attracts the most birds)
- Cracked corn and millet for ground-feeders
- Mealworms for bluebirds, or fruit for thrashers and robins
Keeping it clean (and fair)
The one tradeoff of an open tray is that it's exposed — to weather, to squirrels, and to larger birds. Choose a model with a screened drainage bottom so seed dries out, refill small amounts so nothing spoils, and pair it with a baffle if squirrels move in (see our squirrel-proof feeders). Explore more: All bird feeders · Tube feeders · Hummingbird feeders