AI bird feeder delighted owner before pigeons and mice took over

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  The Verge deputy editor Thomas Ricker tested a Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro, a smart feeder with a 4K camera and AI bird identification.

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  At first, the feeder attracted small birds that its alerts identified as Great Tits and Eurasian Blue Tits.

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  Ricker enjoyed the video recordings and information about the birds available through the Kiwibit app.

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  Common Wood Pigeons later took over the feeder, and the device’s nuisance-animal alarm did not deter them.

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  The pigeons ate for long periods, mice gathered beneath the feeder, and Ricker eventually removed it and put it in a closet.

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  Ricker recommends starting with a simple, inexpensive feeder without AI rather than buying an expensive smart model immediately.

Who

Thomas Ricker, deputy editor and co-founder of The Verge

What

Ricker tested a Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro and described how pigeons and mice made it impractical to use.

When

The article was published on 2026-10-10; the test lasted several weeks.

Where

Ricker's garden

Why

Pigeons monopolized the feeder, its alarm did not deter them, and mice came to eat the spilled seeds.

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