This Affordable Aldi Bird Feeder Feeds Birds In An Oddly Satisfying Way
“Satisfying” is a concept that’s been weirdly influenced by YouTube videos of people doing unseemly things with garlic presses and sometimes hydraulic presses. But everyone can understand the charm of serving a cardinal a snack on a tiny chair. That’s just what a few products — bird feeders shaped like tiny rocking chairs, picnic tables, and benches — currently on offer in Aldi’s “Aisle of Shame” do.
The Aldi Aisle of Shame: Where You’ll Find Unusual Home Goods
The Aldi Aisle of Shame, where you’ll find various non-edible home goods, is all about things you didn’t know you need, like an inflatable hot tub or maybe underglow lights that make your bed look like a JDM car from “The Fast and the Furious” (at least one of those Aisle of Shame products is a real thing). For a mere $9.99 each, you can converse with a robin on a rocker, pigeons on a picnic, and a blue jay on a bench. We’ve seen bench feeders before, as a DIY wood pallet project, but isn’t this easier?
Bench Feeders: A Novel Approach to Bird Feeding
Any reasonable person would see a hybrid Adirondack and rocking chair as some sort of trap, but birds aren’t reasonable people. In fact, they’re not people at all. But you’re not really anthropomorphizing with these bird chairs. It’s not as if you expect the jays and titmice to kick back in a recliner, watch reality TV, and pick the fat from a suet feeder. They’re just eating birdseed (unless you’re into zinging squirrels with that cayenne-infused stuff that looks, and is priced, more like a hipster snack).
The Birds: Who’s on the Guest List?
Grackles, grosbeaks, juncos, and towhees (who names these things?) are likely to be drawn to these little seats, along with blackbirds, doves, jays, pigeons, and quail. Skittish birds will tend to shy away from the openness of tray feeders. You might think of tray feeders as a kind of undifferentiated buffet that the humans in “Wall-E” might have enjoyed. But, unlike buffets (one hopes), tray feeders tend to collect bird droppings quickly, and are open to the weather and therefore prone to soggy, sprouting, and spoiling food.
The Benefits of Tray Feeders: Good and Bad
Some birds like purple martins won’t usually eat at feeders, as they prefer whole insects like crickets and mealworms… with, it is assumed, a little Dijon mustard and caviar. Of course, you can (and should) attract birds to reused lids from old pots and pans or repurposed empty soup cans used as bird feeders. But unless you can picture birds as tiny humans eating from a 55-gallon drum, it might not be quite as satisfying as the seating feeders.
Tips for Choosing the Right Bird Feeder
- Match your bird feeders to the birds you’re trying to feed: While these feeders are great for attracting a variety of birds, not every bird will be drawn to tray or platform feeders like these.
- Clean and refill often: Tray feeders tend to collect bird droppings quickly, and are open to the weather and therefore prone to soggy, sprouting, and spoiling food.
- Consider the type of bird: Some birds, like purple martins, prefer whole insects like crickets and mealworms, while others may be attracted to suet or cayenne-infused birdseed.
- Experiment with different designs: While the Aldi feeders are unique, you may find that other designs or types of bird feeders attract different species or are more effective in your area.
Conclusion
The Aldi bird feeders are a charming and affordable way to attract birds to your yard. While they may not be the most effective way to feed every type of bird, they offer a unique and satisfying way to observe these creatures. By matching your bird feeders to the birds you’re trying to feed, cleaning and refilling often, considering the type of bird, and experimenting with different designs, you can create a bird-friendly environment that brings joy to both you and your feathered friends.
