My brief romance with an AI bird feeder

If you bought a smart bird feeder, the included nuisance animal alarm may not deter larger pests.

The author tested the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro, an AI-powered device that identifies birds and records their activity. Initially impressed by its ability to recognize small birds like Great Tits and Eurasian Blue Tits, the author enjoyed watching and learning about their garden visitors through the feeder's app and 4K HDR video. The experience soured when a large Common Wood Pigeon began dominating the feeder, obscuring the camera and consuming all the seeds. Despite activating the feeder's nuisance animal alarm, the pigeon was unfazed and continued to feed extensively. The feeder's issues escalated with the arrival of mice attracted by the spilled seeds. Ultimately, the author removed and stored the expensive smart bird feeder, concluding that simpler, non-AI feeders might be a better starting point to avoid pest attraction problems.

The Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro, priced at $350 (on sale for $269), offers AI-powered bird identification and 4K HDR video recording, intending to enhance the bird-watching experience. However, the device's effectiveness is significantly undermined when larger, less desirable animals, such as pigeons, take over the feeder, consuming all the food and blocking the camera. The built-in 'Nuisance Animal Alarm' proved ineffective against the determined pigeon, highlighting a potential flaw in the smart feeder's pest management capabilities.

This experience suggests that while AI can accurately identify birds, the physical design and deterrence mechanisms of smart feeders may not be equipped to handle common urban wildlife challenges. The author's advice to start with simpler, non-AI feeders indicates a potential market gap for more robust and adaptable smart wildlife devices. Consumers may need to weigh the advanced features of AI feeders against their practical ability to manage unwanted visitors, especially in environments with diverse animal populations.