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Feeder Field

Editorial policy

Last updated

Feeder Field exists to help you choose backyard birding gear and feed birds well. This page sets out the rules every article on the site follows.

Independence from brands

  • Brands cannot pay for a place in our guides, a better ranking or a softer verdict.
  • We do not accept payment for coverage, and we do not let manufacturers review or approve articles before they are published.
  • If a brand ever sends us a free product, the page that mentions it will say so clearly.
  • We are not in any affiliate program today. If we join one, whether a product pays us a commission will have no bearing on whether we recommend it or where it ranks.

How we pick products

We start from what the reader needs: the birds they want to attract, their climate, their budget, and problems such as squirrels or freezing water. Then we:

  1. Build a long list from the products that are actually available to buyers in the US.
  2. Compare manufacturer specifications that matter for the job, such as capacity, materials, port design, heater wattage, battery life or optical specs.
  3. Look for patterns in verified owner feedback over time, especially recurring failures, durability problems and customer service issues.
  4. Check the bird-care side against expert sources, for example whether a feeder design is easy to keep clean, or whether a birdhouse matches the recommended dimensions for the species.
  5. Explain who each product suits and who should skip it, including its weaknesses.

The full method is on our how we test page.

“Researched” and “Tested” labels

Every article carries a label next to the author’s name:

  • Researched means the recommendation is based on manufacturer specifications, verified owner feedback patterns and expert sources. We have not used the product ourselves.
  • Tested means we bought and used the product ourselves in a backyard setting, and the article describes how.

We never claim hands-on testing that did not happen. A page only switches from “Researched” to “Tested” after the testing is done, and the page is updated to show what we found.

Sources

We rely on primary and expert sources and link to them in our articles:

  • Manufacturer specifications and documentation
  • The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, including All About Birds and eBird
  • The National Audubon Society
  • University cooperative extension services
  • Government wildlife agencies where relevant

Claims about bird ranges, behavior, diet and health are checked against these sources. We do not publish made-up statistics.

No fake reviews

We do not write or publish fake reviews or testimonials, and we do not invent experiences with products. We use AI tools to help research, outline and draft articles. Every draft is fact-checked against its sources and reviewed by the named author before it is published. We never use AI to generate reviews, testimonials or descriptions of hands-on experience we did not have. Every article names its author, who is responsible for its accuracy.

Corrections

If we get something wrong, we fix it. Email seven01.mipo@gmail.com with the page address and what needs correcting. When a correction changes the substance of an article, such as a recommendation, a safety point or a factual claim, we note the change on the page.

Updates

Buying guides and reviews (our “money pages”) are reviewed at least every six months, and sooner when a product is discontinued, redesigned, or when prices or subscription terms change. Smart feeders are re-checked when firmware or app subscription terms change. Each article shows the date it was last updated.

Feeder Field is reader-supported. We are not currently in Amazon Associates or any other affiliate program, so product links on the site are plain links today. If we join a program, we may earn a commission when you buy through some links, at no extra cost to you.

  • Every page with product links shows this disclosure near the top, before the first product link: “We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page.”
  • If we join a program that requires its own statement, we will add it to the pages it applies to and to our affiliate disclosure.
  • Product links are marked rel="sponsored".

Read the full affiliate disclosure.