No Hanging Bird Feeders: The Simple Solution From Amazon Perfect For Your Backyard

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One of the delights of the natural world is the color and song that birds can bring to your yard. Not to mention they'll also eat beetles, mosquitoes, and other unwanted bugs. Among the best ways to attract birds to your garden is to provide them with a regular source of food. Hanging bird feeders are popular and a good idea as long as you don't put them too close to trees or shrubs where predators can lurk. However, not all birds like them. Sparrows (including juncos and towhees) prefer to eat on or near to the ground. Doves, cardinals, finches, jays, and others like a stable platform rather than something that swings around. If you want to feed a greater variety of visitors, the Aelean ground bird feeder tray from Amazon could be ideal.

There are a number of simple DIY seed recipes that appeal to different birds, and the 8-inch square metal tray is large enough to offer several. It has short legs that lift the food just off the ground so it doesn't get waterlogged, yet still offers the stability that ground-feeding birds prefer. You could also position it on a garden table or an old tree stump to see what species of wild birds it attracts. At the moment, the Aelean Bird Feeder Tray costs $12.90.

Customers give the Aelean Ground Bird Feeder Tray 4.5 stars on Amazon, based on over 340 reviews so far. Users commented that it was sturdy, and liked the size. One noted how putting food on the ground was messy, and this solved the problem. Numerous buyers mentioned the wide range of birds it attracted. Although complaints are rare, a few buyers found sharp edges.

There's one obvious drawback with putting bird food close to the ground, though: It's almost bound to attract rodents like chipmunks, mice, rats, and squirrels. Some buyers didn't care and were happy to see these furry creatures at the tray, but they can be a nuisance. Rodents generally feed at night, so bringing the tray in when it gets dark is one idea. A more practical solution is to put out hot bird feed. Seeds or suet balls laced with chili, for example. You could even sprinkle cayenne pepper over standard bird feeds. Surprisingly, birds can't taste the spice and will feed normally, but most rodents hate it. And although there are a few birds you won't want to see in your yards, generally, it's a question of the more variety the better. That goes for the hungry birds, as well as you. Whether you use the Aelean Ground Bird Feeder Tray on its own or in conjunction with hanging feeders, it could encourage some of our feathered friends that you haven't seen before.