Tue 2 Feb 2010
Feeding Birds Mealworms
Posted by Nicole under Fun and Games
[3] Comments
I first discovered mealworms when I discovered Bluebirds. It was 1999 and I had just moved to Loudoun. I remember the day pretty well – it was a January day with a chill in the air. I was filled with excitement for all the new birds I was learning, right here in our yard and then I saw this flash of blue flutter to a limb. I ran through the house, binoculars and Peterson’s field guide in hand, going from window to window to get a glimpse. That was my first bluebird!
I then started researching it to find out what they eat, what habitat they prefer, what their calls sounded like and all of that. One article I read talked about feeding bluebirds mealworms to attract them. So, looking for some instant gratification to be able to see this bird again, I went to a pet store in Leesburg where they sell mealworms and bought a cup. I also picked up a small acrylic bird feeder, the kind you stick to the window, so I could put the mealworms in it and get good views of the bluebirds.
It worked! I had not only Bluebirds but also nuthatches, chickadees, tufted titmice, and even red-bellied woodpeckers coming for a snack. It was great.
I no longer go to the pet store for mealworms. I now order them online in larger quantities – it’s far cheaper in the long run that way, but it was nice to be able to try it out with small amounts first.
There’s not much involved in caring for mealworms but here are a few tips.
- If you buy them online (e.g Grubco or Nature’s Wayor other places) in large amounts, have a container ready for when they arrive. When I buy them from Grubco they generally arrive in a muslin sack with newspaper and all you need to do is shake them off of the newspaper into your container and you’re set.
- You need to feed your mealworms and oatmeal is great for them. They also need a source of water so just cut up some potatoes, carrots or apples and they’ll be happy.
- It’s also good to keep them cool so they don’t metamorphose into beetles too quickly. Some people raise their own mealworms and there’s all sorts of information on that but I haven’t done it myself. Here’s a YouTube video that shows how to raise them if you want to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c82fInUdLJ8
That’s about all there is to caring for mealworms. Now, here are a few tips on feeders and feeding them to the birds:
- If you have starlings in your yard, you may want to take precautions to keep them away from the mealworms. They will fly in as a flock and within seconds gobble up everything you’ve put out.
I use a couple of types of feeders, one looks like a cage with the holes in the metal big enough for Bluebirds and smaller birds like chickadees, wrens, titmice and nuthatches to easily get through but not big enough for starlings to get in. The birds seem to like this one as they can easily fly in and out.
Another type I have is the acrylic one that sticks to the window. That’s fun for up close viewing but I only put a small amount of mealworms in there at a time. The woodpeckers will come to this one which is fun to watch as well as mockingbirds and jays. The third type is an acrylic one that hangs and has a roof to it. You can lower the roof so that bigger birds can’t get in.
A type that I have seen but not used is one that is all enclosed. It has a hole on each end and acrylic sides so you can see the birds. I haven’t used this type because I’m concerned that a bird may get trapped inside, and feeling stressed not remember how to get out, so I’ve leaned towards the open style feeders.
- In terms of when to feed birds mealworms…It can be year round. They definitely appreciate them during the winter when food is more scarce but also during the spring and summer they may come to pick up some food for their fledglings.
The North American Bluebird Society also has a page dedicated to mealworms and you’ll find that here: http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/mealworms.htm
Received a nice email from Bruni H regarding this post that I wanted to share:
Good story on mealworms. I’ve been raising them year round for quite a while. Sure helps keep the high cost of bird food down a bit. In the beginning I was squeamish and would pick them out of the container with tweezers, soon realizing this was ridiculous. Now of course I handle them without a second thought. As you probably have found out by now, you have to put them in a glass dish if temperatures are mild, otherwise they will just crawl away. In winter that is not an issue. It is also fun to see how different birds eat them. Wrens, Bluebirds and others swallow them whole. Cardinals tenderize and flatten them before eating. Titmice usually clamp them between their feet and eat them in pieces. I have a tray feeder right outside my kitchen window so I can study their behavior.
I particularly enjoy seeing Bluebird parents stacking 3-4 mealworms in their bill before flying to their nestlings. In summer I often see toads on my sidewalk or patio and they too enjoy these mealworms. Amazing to see that long tongue coming out to snatch one.
The feeder on two of your photos look like the bottom part of a hummingbird feeder that I have. I’ll give that a try and see if it will do double duty. I have one of the enclosed feeders with a hole in each end that you mentioned and have never had any luck with it. Like you, I don’t like the idea of a bird feeling trapped in there.
Also, in response to Bruni’s question about the feeder I used in 2 of the photos – yes indeed, they’re hummingbird feeders without the lids. The acrylic feeder with the roof wasn’t working out for the picture taking as the birds seemed blocked by the roof so I went to plan B so I could get a couple of shots
The birds liked it just fine!
I used mealworms last year for the first time. I was quite pleased how easily the Bluebirds were attracted to the feeder. However, I became quite discouraged when “other” birds would show up and the mealworms were gone quickly, and I could not keep the feeder filled. I soon stopped the mealworms since I only wanted to feed the Bluebirds. THANKS Nicole for pointing out the number of birds that will feed on them. I need to realize (just like my many other feeders), that all birds need to eat, and will eat (I am amazed how many Bluebirds I currently have attracted to my suet feeders). I will try the mealworms again this year. And THANKS for the links to the online companies selling them. I purchased mine over EBay, but your links seems a bit more reputable.