A platform-style bird feeder will attract many kinds of birds, including northern cardinals and blue jays as well as various grosbeaks and sparrows. Birds that typically feed on the ground, like dark-eyed juncos and mourning doves, may visit a platform feeder.
Also called tray feeders, platform feeders offer seed on an open, flat surface. They're usually mounted on a pole, or they can be suspended from a tree branch, shepherd's crook or other structure. An advantage of platform feeders is how easy they are to refill, compared to a tube feeder that requires some fiddling. However, this ease of access also means the seed is easily reached by precipitation.
The best platform feeders have their tray made of mesh or screening, so that moisture can drain. Some platform feeders have a roof to protect the seed from precipitation, while others are roofless. Seed can become wet even in a roofed platform seeder, thanks to drifting snow or windswept rain.
Whether the feeder has a roof or not, try to put out only as much seed as the birds will use in one or two days, to keep it fresh. Empty the tray and rinse it with a steady stream of water at least once a week to keep it sanitary, as sometimes bird droppings will collect there.
Related: "Keep Bird Seed Fresh for Birds"
The open design of the platform feeder also makes it easy for squirrels to chow down on seed. To discourage them, try positioning the feeder on top of a pole with a baffle. A hanging platform feeder may need a baffle positioned above, which can also help keep the seed dry.
Image credit: Michelle Dorsey Walfred/CC BY 2.0
