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The Verge’s Thomas Ricker reports that a Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro initially brought small birds to his garden, but pigeons later monopolized the seed and mice gathered below. He took the feeder down and recommends starting with a simpler, less expensive model; his account is a personal product test, not a controlled assessment of smart feeders.
The Verge’s Thomas Ricker says he took down a Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro after pigeons began dominating the feeder and mice gathered beneath it, ending what he called a brief romance with the device. His account describes a common practical downside of feeding wild birds: a camera and species-identification alerts can make visitors easier to observe, but do not prevent unwanted animals from finding the food.
Ricker says he mounted the feeder in his garden and, within a few weeks, began receiving AI-generated species alerts identifying small birds including great tits and Eurasian blue tits. He enjoyed watching them in the feeder’s 4K HDR video and reading species information through the Kiwibit app. The report presents these observations as his experience with one feeder at his home.
The situation changed when a common wood pigeon arrived and blocked the camera’s view, according to Ricker. He activated the feeder’s Nuisance Animal Alarm, but says the sound did not stop the pigeon from eating. He later saw pigeons return for extended periods, while mice fed on seed that fell below the feeder. Ricker says he eventually removed the unit and stored it in a closet.
The article identifies the tested product as the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro 4K AI Camera with Solar Panel, with lifetime AI included. Its text refers to a price of $269 after an apparent higher listed price of $350. Ricker says he is not blaming Kiwibit for the animals’ behavior and describes the feeder as enjoyable to use before pigeons took over.
When Smart Feeders Attract Pests
Ricker’s account highlights a limitation that matters to prospective buyers: species recognition is not wildlife management. A feeder can identify birds and provide clear video without controlling which animals reach the seed or what happens to spilled food. Pigeons and mice may turn a useful garden camera into a source of nuisance, depending on the location and the food supply.
The report also offers a measured buying lesson rather than a general verdict on smart feeders. Ricker recommends trying a simple, inexpensive feeder first, particularly because, he says, buyers may not be able to return a used unit simply because pests are attracted to it. His experience does not establish how often this happens or whether other feeder designs, placement choices or deterrents would change the outcome.
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From Bird Alerts to Pigeons
The appeal of the product, as Ricker describes it, came from combining a conventional seed feeder with a camera, phone alerts and an app containing bird information. Early alerts named small birds visiting his garden, and he used the footage to watch their behavior and look for distinctive markings. Those features made the feeder engaging for him during its first days of use.
But the feeder also supplied a concentrated source of food. Once pigeons found it, Ricker says, they stayed for long stretches and consumed the seed intended for smaller birds. Mice then appeared on the ground to eat what was left. This sequence is the basis of the story’s title and its product advice: the AI features documented the visitors, but did not keep larger birds or rodents away.
“Looks like Great Tit!”
— Kiwibit app alert, as quoted by Thomas Ricker
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One Garden, Not a Controlled Test
The report does not establish whether the feeder’s design, its placement, the seed or local wildlife patterns caused the pigeons and mice to gather. Ricker also says he could not tell whether one pigeon or several were returning. His account is a single user’s experience; it does not provide comparative testing of other feeders, quantify how much seed was eaten or show how common the problem is.
It is also unclear whether changes to the feeder setup or other deterrents would have kept smaller birds visiting while discouraging pigeons. Ricker says the alarm did not deter the bird he encountered, but the report does not test the alarm across different animals or settings.
wildlife pest deterrent for bird feeders
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Ricker’s Advice for Buyers
Ricker’s stated next step was to leave the Kiwibit feeder in storage and advise would-be buyers to begin with a basic, lower-cost option. The report does not say whether he plans to reinstall the device or try a different smart feeder. For readers considering one, the account suggests weighing the camera and identification features against the possibility that food may attract larger birds and rodents in their own garden.
No broader product review or follow-up test is included in the source material. Whether a different feeder or setup would have produced a better result for Ricker remains unknown.
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Key Questions
What happened to the Kiwibit smart bird feeder?
Thomas Ricker says he took the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro down after pigeons repeatedly ate from it and mice gathered below to eat spilled seed.
Did the AI bird identification work?
Ricker reports that the app sent alerts identifying small birds, including great tits and Eurasian blue tits, and later identified a common wood pigeon. The article does not independently test the accuracy of those identifications.
Did the nuisance alarm stop the pigeon?
No. Ricker says he activated the Nuisance Animal Alarm, but the pigeon resumed eating. This is his account of one incident, not a test across different animals or locations.
What did Ricker recommend to people considering a smart feeder?
He recommended starting with a simple, less expensive feeder without AI rather than buying an advanced model immediately. His suggestion reflects his personal experience, not a general product comparison.
Source: rss
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