A cardinal perched on a bird feeder (Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash)
HELSINKI, Finland — When you put a bird feeder in your garden, you might think you’re just feeding the birds, but a fascinating new study reveals that these seemingly simple devices have a complex design history influenced by a variety of unexpected creatures, including not only humans but also mice, squirrels, and even bacteria.
Researchers from the University of Helsinki and Aalto University in Finland have uncovered the surprising evolution of bird feeder design over the past century. Published in the journal Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, the study shows that unwanted visitors to bird feeders have played a key role in shaping the structure and technology of these devices.
The team analysed images, design descriptions and articles about bird feeders in Finnish newspapers and magazines from the late 19th and late 20th centuries, and discovered a history of humans constantly adapting to create the perfect bird feeder while keeping out unwanted guests.
“We argue that it is important for environmental humanities scholars to study artifacts and technologies, and conversely, for design studies and science and technology studies scholars to study the nonhuman,” the authors write in their report.
Their work bridges the gap between environmental and technological history, showing that the natural and the artificial are more intertwined than we realise.The study identifies four major changes in bird feeder design over the decades, each driven by a different challenge.
From simple boards to covered structures: Early bird feeders were often just flat boards. But rain and snow ruined the food, so they were given roofs and became house-like structures. Hanging feeders: To keep out cats, mice, and squirrels, people began hanging feeders from wires or attaching them to long poles. Narrow entrances: Larger birds like crows and pigeons were sometimes seen as unwelcome guests, so they were designed with smaller openings. Preventing birds from perching on the feed: Concerns about salmonella in the 1980s led to designs that prevented birds from defecating directly on the feed.
These changes reflect more than just practical concerns. They also reveal shifts in attitudes about which animals we welcome into our spaces and which we try to exclude. After all, bird feeders are a microcosm of our complicated relationship with urban wildlife.
The first bird feeders were made in the 19th century, and their design evolved rapidly in the 20th century. (Credit: Heta Lähdesmäki)
Methodology: Piecing together a century of bird feeder history
To uncover this hidden history, the researchers used a technique called “close reading” to examine a wide range of historical documents. They searched digital archives of Finnish newspapers and magazines for references to bird feeders (called “rinturauta” in Finnish).
The search produced 4,808 hits, narrowed down to 102 articles that contained photographs, drawings or detailed descriptions of bird feeder designs. These sources ranged from national newspapers to children’s magazines, showing just how widespread the practice of feeding birds is.
The researchers analysed these documents chronologically, paying close attention to how bird feeder design changed over time and what the reasons for this change were. They looked not only at the feeders themselves, but also at the words used to describe the feeders and the contexts in which they were discussed.
This approach allowed the researchers to trace the evolution of bird feeder design while also gaining insight into a century of cultural attitudes surrounding bird feeding and urban wildlife in Finland.
The result: a century of innovation in bird feeding.
The findings of the study paint a picture of how bird feeder design is constantly being innovated, driven by a variety of factors.
The early designs were simple, often just flat wooden boards. They were easy for a child to make, which was important as bird feeding was initially promoted as a youth activity.
As bird feeders became more common, designs became more complicated; roofs were added to protect the feeders from rain and snow. This change was so significant that even in the late 20th century, magazines were still telling their readers that bird feeders needed roofs.
Concerns about cats and other predators led to hanging designs and feeders mounted on tall poles, and a 1916 article described mice as “unpleasant” visitors to bird feeders and advised placing feeders where such “enemies” could not reach them.
In the mid-20th century, there was a shift towards excluding larger birds such as crows and pigeons. Designs featured smaller openings or were made too small for larger birds to use comfortably.
Perhaps the biggest change came in the 1980s, when concerns about Salmonella led to a complete overhaul of bird feeder design: New models prevented birds from perching directly over the food, and materials changed from wood to easier-to-clean metal and plastic.
The researchers found that through these changes, bird feeders often mimic human architecture, with many designs resembling miniature houses complete with gabled roofs.
Limitations: A narrow view of global practice
Although this study provides interesting insights into the evolution of bird feeder design, it does have some limitations.
This study focused on Finland only and practices may vary in other countries. This study is based on published material and may not fully reflect all bird feeder designs in use at a particular time.
The researchers said they focused on feeders for seeds, nuts and food scraps, known in Finnish as “rinturauta.” Other types of feeders, such as suet balls, were not included in the study.
The availability of source material may have influenced the perception of the importance of a particular design change: for example, the emphasis on Salmonella in the 1980s may in part reflect increased media coverage of the issue at that time.
Discussion and lessons learned: Rethinking urban wildlife relationships
This study offers more than a history of bird feeder design: it offers a new lens through which to view our relationship with urban wildlife and the objects we make to engage with nature.
The researchers argue that studying these everyday objects can provide insight into the larger question of how humans decide which animals to welcome into their spaces and which to exclude. The evolution of bird feeder design reflects changing attitudes towards different species: initially focused on helping small birds survive harsh winters, but later on interest shifted to keeping out “nuisance” species like pigeons.
Moreover, the study challenges the conventional separation of environmental and technological history: the birdfeeder emerges as a “multi-technology”: an object shaped not only by human designers but also by the behavior and needs of different animal species and even microorganisms like Salmonella.
This perspective invites us to rethink other objects in our environment: how are other seemingly simple technologies shaped by complex interactions with human and non-human agents?
The study also highlights the potential of interdisciplinary research: by combining approaches from environmental history, design studies, and science and technology studies, the researchers were able to uncover rich stories that might have been missed in any single field.
Finally, the evolution of bird feeder design is a reminder of the unintended consequences of human interaction with nature. Every attempt to solve one problem—keeping cats out, keeping large birds away, or preventing the spread of disease—creates new challenges and spurs further innovation.
“We argue that bird feeders are not essential for feeding birds, as food can simply be thrown on the ground. Feeders are designed to keep out unwanted guests such as mice, crows and salmonella, allowing smaller birds to get more food and stay safe,” lead study author Heta Ledesmäki, postdoctoral researcher in cultural history at the University of Helsinki, concluded in a media release.
