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#1
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Mealworms
Hi Sacha
I know you don't want to hear it, but yes it brings in the blackbirds and robins. The blackbirds take beakfuls of them at once, I counted twenty one time. The robins take them as well. But best of all at this time of the year the male robin feeds the female, and the blackbirds feed their fledgings. A robin actually took one from my hand. Can you really justify your daughter of such a sight ; ). The pet shop I bought mine at puts them in empty flora marg tubs, which I keep in the fridge. When my daughter visits, I ask her to get the marg out of the fridge for her sandwich and watch her scream, gets her every time. Hehehehe PS Sunflower hearts (hearts especially rather than whole ones) will attract the blue tits, great tits, and green finches............maybe an alternative. "Sacha Hubbard" wrote in message al.net... Has anyone here experienced feeding mealworms to the birds in their garden? If so, do you think it has increased both the numbers and varieties visiting the garden? -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon |
#2
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Mealworms
On Tue, 23 May 2006 21:04:04 +0100, doobydoobydo wrote
(in article ): Hi Sacha I know you don't want to hear it, but yes it brings in the blackbirds and robins. The blackbirds take beakfuls of them at once, I counted twenty one time. The robins take them as well. But best of all at this time of the year the male robin feeds the female, and the blackbirds feed their fledgings. A robin actually took one from my hand. Can you really justify your daughter of such a sight ; ). My daughter is 24 - tough it out. ;-) But yes, we have masses of blackbirds and robins so maybe I'll have to bite the bullet for their sake. The pet shop I bought mine at puts them in empty flora marg tubs, which I keep in the fridge. When my daughter visits, I ask her to get the marg out of the fridge for her sandwich and watch her scream, gets her every time. Hehehehe PS Sunflower hearts (hearts especially rather than whole ones) will attract the blue tits, great tits, and green finches............maybe an alternative. Interesting you say that. I have a seed feeder hanging from my study window, which is upstairs and today, I watched a coal tit worrying away at it and apparently hurling unwanted seed to the ground. He finally found a sunflower seed and flew away with it triumphantly. The feeder full of niger seed appears to attract everything but not, yet, the green finches we were assured would go mad for it. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon |
#3
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Mealworms
Sacha Hubbard wrote: Interesting you say that. I have a seed feeder hanging from my study window, which is upstairs and today, I watched a coal tit worrying away at it and apparently hurling unwanted seed to the ground. He finally found a sunflower seed and flew away with it triumphantly. The feeder full of niger seed appears to attract everything but not, yet, the green finches we were assured would go mad for it. I can confirm that they do - they form the majority of visiting birds in my garden, and that's what I feed them - when I feed them... Which brings me to a maybe slightly off topic question: should one still feed birds this time of year? I haven't refilled the feeders in over a month, on the basis that grubs and caterpillars are now supposed to be reasonably plentiful? Cat(h) |
#4
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Mealworms
On Wed, 24 May 2006 14:22:41 +0100, Cat(h) wrote
(in article .com): Sacha Hubbard wrote: Interesting you say that. I have a seed feeder hanging from my study window, which is upstairs and today, I watched a coal tit worrying away at it and apparently hurling unwanted seed to the ground. He finally found a sunflower seed and flew away with it triumphantly. The feeder full of niger seed appears to attract everything but not, yet, the green finches we were assured would go mad for it. I can confirm that they do - they form the majority of visiting birds in my garden, and that's what I feed them - when I feed them... Which brings me to a maybe slightly off topic question: should one still feed birds this time of year? I haven't refilled the feeders in over a month, on the basis that grubs and caterpillars are now supposed to be reasonably plentiful? Cat(h) Thanks for that. From the RSPB site: When to feed wild birds Although winter feeding benefits birds most, food shortages can occur at any time of the year. By feeding year round, we are giving birds a better chance to survive the periods of food shortage whenever they may occur. Autumn and winter* Put out food and water on a regular basis. In severe weather, feed twice daily if possible, in the morning and in the early afternoon. Birds require high energy (high fat) foods during the cold winter weather. They need to maintain their body reserves to survive the frosty nights. All foods listed in this leaflet are suitable for winter feeding. Use only good quality food and scraps. Always adjust the quantity given to the demand, and never allow uneaten foods to accumulate around the feeders. Once you establish a feeding routine, try not to change it.* Spring and summer* Only selected foods should be fed at this time and good hygiene is vital (see below), or feeding may do more harm than good.* During the summer months birds require high protein foods, especially while they are moulting. Black sunflower seeds, pinhead oatmeal, soaked sultanas, raisins and currants, mild grated cheese, mealworms, waxworms, mixes for insectivorous birds, good seed mixtures without loose peanuts, RSPB food bars and summer seed mixture can all be used. Soft apples and pears cut in half, bananas and grapes are also useful foods. Some people use soaked dog or cat food and tinned pet foods, but these may attract magpies, crows and cats. Avoid using peanuts, fat and bread at this time, since these foods can be harmful if brought to nestlings. If you feel you must put out peanuts, only do so in suitable mesh feeders that will not allow sizeable pieces of peanuts to be removed.* -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon email address on web site |
#5
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Mealworms
"Cat(h)" writes
Sacha Hubbard wrote: Interesting you say that. I have a seed feeder hanging from my study window, which is upstairs and today, I watched a coal tit worrying away at it and apparently hurling unwanted seed to the ground. He finally found a sunflower seed and flew away with it triumphantly. The feeder full of niger seed appears to attract everything but not, yet, the green finches we were assured would go mad for it. I can confirm that they do - they form the majority of visiting birds in my garden, and that's what I feed them - when I feed them... Which brings me to a maybe slightly off topic question: should one still feed birds this time of year? I haven't refilled the feeders in over a month, on the basis that grubs and caterpillars are now supposed to be reasonably plentiful? They're struggling to feed youngsters at this time of year, and seeds aren't that plentiful yet. September seems to be when demand for bird feeders is least. The birds that come to a seed feeder aren't always the ones that can take grubs and caterpillars - roughly, spiky beaks (many tits) seem to be good for going after insects, tough beaks (eg greenfinch) are good for cracking seeds but not so good at insects. This is not authoritative, but I wonder whether it might be OK to cut back on the fat balls at this time of year? - they are a more direct replacement for insect food. -- Kay |
#6
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Mealworms
Sacha Hubbard writes
Interesting you say that. I have a seed feeder hanging from my study window, which is upstairs and today, I watched a coal tit worrying away at it and apparently hurling unwanted seed to the ground. He finally found a sunflower seed and flew away with it triumphantly. The feeder full of niger seed appears to attract everything but not, yet, the green finches we were assured would go mad for it. -- I think you informant got their finches mixed! It's gold finches that particularly like nyger seed (it's a thistle type thingy, so close to their other favourite of teasel). Greenfinches are happy on a sunflower seed based mix. -- Kay |
#7
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Mealworms
On Wed, 24 May 2006 22:33:44 +0100, K wrote
(in article ): Sacha Hubbard writes Interesting you say that. I have a seed feeder hanging from my study window, which is upstairs and today, I watched a coal tit worrying away at it and apparently hurling unwanted seed to the ground. He finally found a sunflower seed and flew away with it triumphantly. The feeder full of niger seed appears to attract everything but not, yet, the green finches we were assured would go mad for it. -- I think you informant got their finches mixed! It's gold finches that particularly like nyger seed (it's a thistle type thingy, so close to their other favourite of teasel). Greenfinches are happy on a sunflower seed based mix. Though strangely enough although goldfinches used to eat from our nyger seed feeders at a previous house, here they only go for the seeds on the plant, and the blue tits are feasting on the nyger seed. Nowt so contrary as birds. -- Sally in Shropshire, UK bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk |
#8
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Mealworms
On Thu, 25 May 2006 10:54:53 +0100, Sally Thompson wrote
(in article et): On Wed, 24 May 2006 22:33:44 +0100, K wrote (in article ): snip -- I think you informant got their finches mixed! It's gold finches that particularly like nyger seed (it's a thistle type thingy, so close to their other favourite of teasel). Greenfinches are happy on a sunflower seed based mix. Though strangely enough although goldfinches used to eat from our nyger seed feeders at a previous house, here they only go for the seeds on the plant, and the blue tits are feasting on the nyger seed. Nowt so contrary as birds. Perhaps that's got something to do with the different foods available to them in different places. Maybe they need to supplement their diet with e.g. niger seed in one location but not in another? -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon email address on web site |
#9
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Mealworms
On Thu, 25 May 2006 12:09:45 +0100, Sacha Hubbard wrote
(in article et): On Thu, 25 May 2006 10:54:53 +0100, Sally Thompson wrote (in article et): On Wed, 24 May 2006 22:33:44 +0100, K wrote (in article ): snip -- I think you informant got their finches mixed! It's gold finches that particularly like nyger seed (it's a thistle type thingy, so close to their other favourite of teasel). Greenfinches are happy on a sunflower seed based mix. Though strangely enough although goldfinches used to eat from our nyger seed feeders at a previous house, here they only go for the seeds on the plant, and the blue tits are feasting on the nyger seed. Nowt so contrary as birds. Perhaps that's got something to do with the different foods available to them in different places. Maybe they need to supplement their diet with e.g. niger seed in one location but not in another? Yes, I put it down to the fact that there is plenty of "natural" food for the goldfinches here, where we are pretty lushly rural, whereas in our previous existence we were in a far more suburban environment. -- Sally in Shropshire, UK bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk |
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