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A screen tray bird feeder is simply a tray feeder with a screen for its bottom surface. Generally, wooden platform bird feeders are the most popular type of bird feeder around. They are very versatile and can be placed directly on the ground or on slightly elevated areas to offer food to ground feeding birds like doves and finches. This type of feeder can also be mounted on posts of different heights to cater to birds like blue jays and evening grosbeaks. Platform or tray feeders can hold a large amount and a wide variety of seeds and attracts an even wider selection of birds. Its simple style of construction offers an unobstructed view of the feeding birds. Building a platform type bird feeder is also very easy. Any type of a wide flat surface or piece of wood will do. Wooden platform feeders have a very definite and obvious downside though. Water tends to accumulate rather fast on the surface where the seeds are spread. Ample drainage holes are needed and frequent cleaning and maintenance is also required. This is necessary to prevent any contamination of soiled seeds and to keep the visiting birds healthy. Allowing bird feeding enthusiasts to enjoy the benefits of a platform bird feeder while avoiding the drawbacks of having to clean this type of bird feeder all the time has prompted some manufacturers to come out with a screen bottomed tray bird feeder. This type of platform bird feeder has become quite popular nowadays since it presents certain advantages over the ordinary wooden platform bird feeder. Screens are made of wire or nylon mesh, stretched into the frame of your bird feeder. Metal screen bottoms are also easy to clean and keep. Screen bottomed tray bird feeders assures immediate and proper drainage, making certain that the seeds on your feeder are kept fairly dry and will not spoil quickly therefore requiring less frequent maintenance visits. There are some screen tray feeders available online. You can check these out if you want to purchase one, or you can try making one for yourself. The Northwest Nature Shop at has some screen bottomed wooden bird feeders available online. Birds-n-garden.com also features cedar bird feeders with screen bottoms. Wild Wood Farms also offers screen bottomed tray feeders. If you intend to build your own screen tray bird feeder, try this simple plan from the DIYnetwork: Steps: 1. Make and mark the measurements for the 1 x 12 board to make the pieces for the feeder. Two pieces cut to 13” in length are needed for the support pieces.
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