TECHNOLOGY · FOCUS
Smart bird feeder: identifying birds is not enough
A firsthand account published by The Verge describes the limitations of an AI-equipped Kiwibit bird feeder. Its user was pleased with the identification alerts and video, but a pigeon and then mice led to the device’s removal. The experience remains an individual case.
Legal disclosure: this content was produced by an artificial intelligence system. Editorial transparency
In a firsthand account, The Verge recounts an experience with the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro smart bird feeder. The device sends AI bird identification alerts to a phone and allows users to view videos in 4K HDR. Its app also provides information about the migration habits, nesting and diet of the species observed.
The account first describes an enjoyable experience, followed by the arrival of a pigeon that blocks the lens while feeding. The user then activates an audible alarm intended to deter unwanted animals. In this episode, the signal does not make the pigeon leave: an intervention at the feeder ultimately becomes necessary.
The problem continues with a persistent presence at the feeder, although the account does not establish whether this is the same pigeon or several. Mice also come to eat seeds that have fallen to the ground. The user eventually removes the device. This account measures neither the accuracy of automatic identification nor the alarm’s general effectiveness. It documents a particular situation without establishing a systematic product defect.
The experience nevertheless illustrates a possible practical limitation of connected devices: observing and identifying a phenomenon is not enough to control it. Here, the digital features provide images and information, while the feeder’s lasting appeal also depends on the animals it attracts. For a purchase of this kind, how the device behaves in its environment therefore deserves as much attention as its AI features.