Platform feeders provide a wonderful edition to your backyard feeding station. Birds that don’t often use other types of feeders, such as hoppers and tubes, will gladly go for seed offered on a platform.
We use this one from Woodlink which is constructed of durable wood, is easy to clean, and provides ample space for several birds to eat. The feeder can be mounted on a pole, hung from a branch, or just set out on the ground.
Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch
I set the feeder up at Stacia’s out in the country and filled it with safflower seed. So far bird activity has been steady but is mostly of a small variety of species: Dark-eyed Juncos, House Finches, Mourning Doves, and House Sparrows.
Surprisingly, a Downy Woodpecker checked it out after a visit to the nearby suet feeder.
I’ve used several brands of platform feeders and most have unceremoniously succumbed to the harsh weather of northern Illinois. The ones that have stood up to more than one winter usually listed wildly in even the smallest of breezes.
Dark-eyed Junco
The Woodlink platform feeder so far is faring much better. The solid construction looks like it will last and despite enduring a lot of wind (open farm country), the feeder remains steady and well-visited.
If you’re looking for a new platform feeder we have this for sale in our OpenSky store. It’s bound to attract some beautiful migrating birds as well as your everyday backyard birds.
I actually tried to buy one of those locally just yesterday, but the feed store was out of them. I opted for yet another sunflower feeder (which all of our “kids” will gladly use.) If the feed store doesn’t get more platform feeders in soon, though, I’ll order one from y’all.