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The Verge’s Thomas Ricker reports that his Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro initially attracted small birds, which the feeder’s AI attempted to identify, but pigeons later monopolized the seed and mice gathered below. He eventually removed the $269 device and advises newcomers to try a cheaper, simpler feeder first.
The Verge’s Thomas Ricker says he took down a Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro after pigeons began occupying it and mice appeared to eat seed dropped below. The account describes an initially enjoyable experience with the smart feeder’s camera and bird-identification alerts that ended when larger visitors overwhelmed the setup.
Ricker writes that he mounted the feeder in his garden and began receiving alerts identifying small birds, including great tits and Eurasian blue tits. The feeder captured 4K HDR video, and its app offered information about visitors’ diets, nesting and migration. He says he enjoyed watching the birds and looking for distinctive markings.
The experience changed when a common wood pigeon arrived, according to the report. Ricker says the bird blocked the camera view and continued eating despite his activating the feeder’s Nuisance Animal Alarm, which he describes as a siren feature generally intended for animals such as squirrels. He says the pigeon fed for about 15 minutes before he went outside and shooed it away.
Ricker reports that pigeons later returned and stayed for as long as 30 minutes, while mice gathered beneath the feeder to eat fallen seed. He ultimately removed the device and put it in a closet. The article lists the feeder at $269 in the writer’s purchase description, while its quoted product name includes a $350 figure; the source does not explain the difference.
When Smart Feeders Attract Pests
The report highlights a practical limit of camera-equipped bird feeders: identifying visitors does not necessarily control which animals can reach the food. A feeder that works as a bird-watching camera may also provide an easy source of seed for larger birds and animals below.
For readers considering a first feeder, Ricker’s experience is a caution about spending on advanced features before learning what visits a particular garden. His recommendation is to begin with a simple, less expensive feeder, rather than treating one product account as proof that AI feeders generally fail. The report does not establish how common the problem is or whether changes to feeder placement or seed could have prevented it.
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From Small Birds to Pigeons
The article is a first-person product report, not a controlled test of smart feeders or a broad survey of bird-feeding outcomes. Ricker describes one feeder in one garden, where small birds initially visited and larger birds arrived later. The account does not compare the Kiwibit device with conventional feeders under the same conditions.
The product combined a camera, app-based species alerts and a nuisance-animal alarm. Those features made it possible for Ricker to watch and receive notifications about visitors, but his account suggests that the alarm did not deter the pigeon he encountered. He says he is not blaming Kiwibit for the animals’ behavior and characterizes using the feeder as enjoyable until the pigeons took over.
“Looks like Great Tit!”
— Kiwibit app alert quoted by Thomas Ricker
What One Garden Cannot Show
The report does not establish whether the mice were drawn by seed spilled by pigeons, whether they would have visited without the feeder, or whether different placement or settings could have changed the outcome. It also does not say whether the alarm was tested on other animals or whether the app’s bird identifications were independently verified.
The account concerns one user’s experience; it does not provide sales, reliability or comparison data for Kiwibit or other smart feeders. The source also gives both $269 and $350 in connection with the product without explaining whether one is a sale price or a different price point.
A Simpler Feeder First
Ricker says he has removed the Kiwibit feeder and recommends that prospective buyers start with an inexpensive, non-AI model. The source reports no announced product change, further testing or response from Kiwibit related to his experience. Readers considering a purchase would need to check current pricing and product details separately; the report does not say whether the used feeder could be returned.
Key Questions
What happened to the Kiwibit feeder?
Thomas Ricker says he took it down after pigeons repeatedly ate from it and mice gathered beneath it to feed on what fell.
Did the feeder identify the birds?
The app sent alerts naming birds including great tits, Eurasian blue tits and a common wood pigeon. The report does not describe independent checks of those identifications.
Did the nuisance-animal alarm stop the pigeon?
According to Ricker, it did not deter the pigeon he encountered. He says the bird resumed eating after the alarm sounded.
Does the report show that AI bird feeders attract mice?
No. It recounts one garden’s experience, where mice appeared below the feeder after pigeons began eating there. It does not establish that AI feeders generally attract mice.
What does Ricker recommend to new buyers?
He recommends starting with a simple, inexpensive feeder without AI rather than immediately buying a more expensive smart model.
Source: rss
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