“What’s one surprising trick you’ve used to attract more birds to your backyard feeder? How did this method change your birding experience?”
Adding a bird bath with a fountain or running water
Adding a bird bath with a fountain or running water has been a game changer when it comes to attracting birds to my feeder and generally to my backyard. I’ve always had a bird bath, but upgrading to one with a solar-powered fountain really seems to attract more birds! I’ve also started seeing a wider variety of species visiting my feeders because of this, which has been pretty neat.
Ryan Farley, CEO, LawnStarter
Adding a mix of seeds that I knew were native to the area
One surprising trick I used to attract more birds to my backyard feeder was adding a mix of seeds that I knew were native to the area. I switched to using black oil sunflower seeds, thistle, and millet, which are favorites of local species like finches and sparrows. I also placed the feeder near a shrub to provide some cover, making the birds feel safer.
This simple change dramatically increased the variety of birds visiting. Within a few weeks, I had a much more diverse group of species—more cardinals, chickadees, and even a few woodpeckers. It also made the birding experience more rewarding, as I was able to observe a wider range of birds up close. The key takeaway for me was that catering to the natural preferences of the local bird population can make a huge difference in attracting more visitors.
Nikita Sherbina, Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen
AI-powered camera trap
I once used an AI-powered camera trap—originally part of a computer vision side project—to identify not only the species visiting my feeder, but also the time windows they preferred. By combining this with automated seed dispersion and ultrasonic “welcome tones” (mimicking the dawn chorus), I tripled the variety of species in just 10 days.
But here’s the twist: the camera didn’t just record birds—it gave me insight into why certain species avoided the feeder during specific hours. For example, finches seemed to steer clear whenever larger birds like grackles took over. So I programmed the dispenser to limit seed flow for 10 minutes after a grackle visit, letting smaller birds return.
The result? A more balanced, diverse ecosystem that I could literally watch evolve in real-time through my dashboard. It turned birdwatching into a two-way dialogue—where tech met nature and gave me back a sense of awe I hadn’t felt since childhood.
As someone immersed in digital transformation, this unexpected hobby reminded me that the most meaningful “user engagement” often starts by just listening—quietly, attentively—to the world around you.
Martin Weidemann, Owner, Weidemann.tech
