Does Shark Tank's Happy Birdwatcher Birdseed Live Up To The Hype? Here's What We Know

When you buy a bag of bird seed from a big-box store, you're probably getting a generic blend of filler ingredients like millet, milo, wheat, and sunflower seeds. If you watch closely, you'll notice that birds tend to pick out their favorite seeds, tossing the rest onto the ground. Of course, you could try a seed product that keeps birds from making a mess, but instead, imagine if every ingredient in your bird feeder appealed to your backyard friends. They'd be frenzying around your feeders all day! 

Well, The Happy Birdwatcher Co. can make this a reality. The company uses data from local bird sightings to craft a unique seed blend that supports the species in your area. With a few clicks through a short quiz, you can unlock a bird seed mix that's suitable for your ZIP code, feeder type, and the birds you want to see — from clever crows to classic chickadees and more. Besides providing birds with a natural, healthy diet, Happy Birdwatcher's custom seed blends also claim to increase customer's happiness and reduce their anxiety through birdwatching. After an unfruitful appearance on "Shark Tank," The Happy Birdwatcher Co. faced a troubled future without investors. Nevertheless, their products have fared brilliantly out in the wild.

These personalized seed blends have received soaring reviews, with 98% of customers giving them five stars on their website. Many customers noted an increase in feeder activity as well as species variety after switching to Happy Birdwatcher. Here's a closer look at what birders are loving about Happy Birdwatcher's revolutionary seed blends and a few areas where the brand could improve.

It can be hard to keep up with all the types of birdseed and which ones to use to attract your favorite birds. Discovering what local birds will eat often requires some trial and error. The Happy Birdwatcher Co. takes the guesswork out of this. From the start, customers enjoy the easy ordering process and ability to select specific birds they want to see. While most reviews didn't have much to say about the supposed mental health benefits of birdwatching, purchasers found that the seed was very successful at drawing birds to their feeder. For those who felt that they'd seen the same birds for years, spotting a new or rare species was a wonderful surprise. Reviews praised the products' freshness and superior quality, as well as the company's attentive customer service and thoughtful packaging. Unlike other birdseed products, Happy Birdwatcher uses plastic-free packaging, and for every 10 pounds of birdseed sold, the company donates $1 to supporting addiction recovery and mental health services.

Specialty seed blends and suet cakes were some of the most rave-worthy products. Only a few customers were slightly less impressed by the company's Everyday blend. Another thing to note is that Happy Birdwatcher doesn't claim to change its formulas throughout the year, so even with customized seeds, your bird feeder might not be properly stocked based on the seasons. At $36 for a Starter HappySeed Box containing a 10 pound Everyday seed bag, the price is steep compared to more generic brands, but it's a worthwhile cost for many.