Bird Feeders First Came About In The 19th Century, And Here’s A Look At How They Evolved Over The Years
Do you or someone you know, like a friend or relative, have a bird feeder outside your house?
I’ve always found them to be fascinating, as they bring the joy of bird-watching right to your window. It’s a delightful feeling to spot some beautiful avians if you have one hanging near your home.
There’s also a social media trend where people will keep security cameras on their bird feeders and post footage of all the feathered friends and other wild creatures that stop by to take a bite.
I personally cannot put out a bird feeder, as I live in a city apartment, and while I hoped I’d be able to hang one off my fire escape, I learned that it would likely attract more unwanted creatures like rats and bugs than pretty birds.
But if you’ve managed to keep an eye on the contraptions you’ve seen in people’s homes or stores, you’ve probably noticed that their shape and design have evolved over the years for that very reason – to only attract birds instead of other pests.
If you’re passionate about birds or are considering getting a bird feeder for your own home, here is a brief history of the cool tool.
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Helsinki took a close look at bird feeders’ evolution and design. The first iterations, which were made in the 19th century, had an extremely basic design. They were essentially flat planks of wood that people would leave food on and outdoors for birds. No, they weren’t hung up, just placed on the ground or on some steps.
Of course, bird feed left out on a flat plank is bound to get ruined not only by creatures who pop by to eat it but also by weather conditions like rain and wind.
Then, during the 20th century, kitschy, tiny roofs like the ones we see on birdhouses were added to bird feeders to protect the food.
Ingo Bartussek – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual birds
Regardless, as time progressed, people still grew frustrated with other animals and pests eating the food, from cats to squirrels and mice.
So, the design of bird feeders evolved greatly in the 1910s, when people began placing the little roofed platforms on high sticks and poles that would keep away other animals, or so they hoped.
Other animals or larger, more stubborn birds continued to make their way in and eat up all the feed before smaller, more desirable birds could get to it.
That’s why, in the 1930s, people decided to make entrances and openings on bird feeders that led to the food becoming smaller, so only tiny, more low-key birds could access it.
Afterward, we also became more aware of the diseases and germs birds carried around and wanted to make sure both their spaces and bird feeders were clean.
Their design was updated in the 1970s to improve tidiness. Many updated bird feeder models also encourage winged creatures not to go to the bathroom on them, which helped tremendously reduce the spread of germs.
Obviously, as bird feeders and humans alike have changed over the years, so has wildlife. Therefore, you shouldn’t be too surprised if you still manage to see other creatures besides birds visiting your feeder occasionally. But if that won’t kill your vibe or put you at risk for any kind of infestation, you can keep your feeder out.
Thanks to the ever-evolving design, bird feeding and watching have remained a beloved hobby for people worldwide.
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