I purchased a second ground feeder this year (it has a clear cover) and I've found the ground birds use them more when they're located near shrubs. Mine is sitting in a small open area that is surrounded by a large rock rose, misc. trees and a couple of rhodies.
The towhee, sparrows and thrush tend to run out to the feeder and then back into the shrubs and they always choose the rock rose and Deodar Cedar.
I also have Jays, Juncos, Flickers and Warblers feeding from it.

Forgot to ask.......what type seed are you using?

'My' ground birds prefer millet, crushed corn and a little niger mixed in.

Well, the feeder is sitting under a canopy of trees next to some 4 feet tall wetland grass. Before I was feeding them on the patio, which was 30 feet from the trees out in the open. The tray feeder is safer.

I am also feeding them the same food I serve before, which was millet + cracked corn.

So far, the tray has been used by cardinals, house sparrows, and Red wing blackbirds. Junco seems to avoid stepping on the platform except for the one Junco that managed to figure out how to use the tube feeder. The dove actually crawl underneath the feeder as if they can't figure out that there's stuff on the tray.

Paul

They'll probably eventually figure it out. I had the same problem with my first tray so I took the legs off. This year, with the second tray, they don't seem to mind jumping up on it. Most manage to kick/scratch enough seed out of the tray to keep the others happy! :)

The millet is a favorite of the HOSP. I don't feed it at all and very rarley have a HOSP problem. They come through once in a while but don't stay long.

I have found what Lisa said to be true. While millet and cracked corn may be enjoyed by a variety of birds, I no longer use this bird seed and still have many varieties of birds, and thankfully, no HOSPS. I use BOSS, sunflower chips, and a fruit and nut blend. About once or twice a week, I treat them to raisins (soaked for about 30 min.) and blueberries. They love it, especially during nesting season!

I started using millet again mainly because the house sparrow seems to eat everything on earth. When the millet is removed, they eat all of the sunflower seeds. I switch to safflower seed, they eat that. I put out thistle seed, they eat that, too. When nothing is out, they start eating the BBQ ash from my BBQ (a surreal experience). I am surprised they don't start eating the house.

About 10 feet from my feeding station, there are 2 mature Yew trees - Yews that were never sheared and growing in a tree form. The birds LOVE these trees - they are evergreen and provide lots of cover. At times there can be dozens of birds hiding in the trees, and they fly back and forth from the feeders constantly.

Anywho, under one Yew there is some Pieris growing and I've piled some ever green boughs, old Xmas tree, etc. Under the other I keep it bare as a ground feeding area - no vegetation, leaves, sticks, etc. I toss BOSS, crumbs, old corn chips, or tidbits under that tree. The birds love to eat on the ground there because they have plenty of cover above and nearby, but it is open enough that they can see their surroundings easily.

The ground may be better than a feeder, because it is a more widespread area and it is less likely the food will get cross-contaminated? Just a theory.

I too feed directly on the ground-I figure birds have been eating off the ground for milennia so.. I just toss cracked corn under a favorite bush (ornamental quince) which is in turn under a huge old catalpa tree. There are feeders with BOSS, both platform and tubes scattered through the yard, with some doves, white-crowns and others eating under them all. I also feed thistle (nyger), peanuts in the shell and suet. I've never used millet but grew some as an ornamental one year & the finches liked it. There are 3 acres of mostly eastern red cedar & other natives for the wildlife. In over 40 years of feeding I've only once had an outbreak of salmonella & it was fairly easily contained by removing the feeders, cleaning well & leaving them down for a month. I am not a fanatic about cleaning my feeders. (or my house for that matter)
Susan

we are lucky here that it is hot and extremely dry summers and seldom have problems with mold or stale stuff' and winter icy and cold which deters spoilage. The doves and sparrows and juncos and towhees keep the ground cleaned up most of the time. I do feed on stumps a lot cause i can rake the snow off and they have a dry place to eat out of the icy snow covered ground.