# Smart bird feeder backfires with pigeons and mice

> Thomas Ricker's AI-powered Kiwibit feeder attracted the wrong guests, turning his garden into a pest buffet.
- Title: Smart bird feeder backfires with pigeons and mice · The Verge
- Summary: Thomas Ricker's AI-powered Kiwibit feeder attracted the wrong guests, turning his garden into a pest buffet. A three hundred fifty dollar smart bird feeder…
- Keywords: kiwibit bird feeder 2 pro, smart home gadgets, ai camera, bird identification, garden pests, thomas ricker, technology, culture, Smart, bird, feeder, backfires
- Source: The Verge — https://theverge.com/gadgets/1007674/smart-bird-feeders-attact-pests-too
- Author: Thomas Ricker
- Published: 2026-10-10T07:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: kiwibit bird feeder 2 pro, smart home gadgets, ai camera, bird identification, garden pests, thomas ricker, technology, culture
## Songbirds flock to the new feeder
Thomas Ricker mounted a three hundred fifty dollar Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro in his garden. Within weeks, dozens of colorful birds arrived, identified by AI alerts as Great Tits and Eurasian Blue Tits.

> Looks like Great Tit!
## The feeder delivers crisp video and data
Ricker enjoyed watching the birds in four K HDR video and reading about their migration habits and diet through the Kiwibit app. He looked for unique markings to name his new garden visitors.
## A pigeon arrives and takes over
An alert announced a Common Wood Pigeon.The fat bird blocked the camera lens and ignored the Nuisance Animal Alarm.

> Looks like Common Wood Pigeon!
## Mice follow the pigeons, feeder goes away
Mice arrived below the feeder to feast on fallen seeds. Admitting defeat, Ricker dismounted the expensive bird feeder and shoved it into a closet. He suggests starting with something simple and inexpensive instead.

> you can't return a used feeder just because it attracts pests
## Key takeaway

A three hundred fifty dollar smart bird feeder successfully identified songbirds but attracted pigeons and mice, forcing the owner to abandon it after weeks.