While most wild birds prefer the convenience of live mealworms, you may want to consider giving dried mealworms a try, too. Whether you’re looking for tips for attracting the best wild birds to your yard, or simply want to attract the most variety of birds to your yard, mealworms are an ideal choice. While live mealworms are easier to attract, dried mealworms may take some time to be discovered by birds.
Catbirds
Mealworms are an excellent alternative to seed feeders and peanuts for your bird’s diet. The earthy taste and protein content of mealworms are attractive to many different species of bird. It costs about $5 to $10 per pound, which is considerably less than the price of sunflower seeds and peanuts. Because mealworms are not alive, they cannot transform into beetles. However, this does not mean that they cannot be eaten by your bird.
Mealworms are available in live and dried varieties. While live mealworms are more desirable, dried mealworms are cheaper to purchase and less effort to maintain. While dried mealworms can’t catch a bird’s attention, they are easier to mix with other foods and can be rehydrated with water or nectar to increase their appeal. This is particularly important when feeding hatchlings, as the worms will be more digestible if they are softened.
Mealworms are also an excellent choice for catbirds. They love to pick them up in their beaks, and they also like European robins. Mealworms make a nutritious snack for birds, and combining them with other foods will enhance the flavor of the mix. The best way to attract these birds to your feeders is to mix mealworms with other foods that your catbirds will enjoy.
Robins are small, songbirds found in eastern U.S. and have spread across the continent. They are mainly woodland creatures, but are able to live in urban environments such as parks and suburban areas. They can be found in the eastern United States, and are able to migrate to areas with more favorable climates during the winter season. They eat various insects and caterpillars, and are excellent backyard birds.
Some European mealworms are best soaked and served in water. You can mix dried mealworms with other bird treats and wrens will flock to the feeders. Blue tit birds like to eat mealworms, so you can mix them with seeds and fruits and see what happens. Catbirds and other wild birds will be attracted to the mealworms and other goodies and will visit your feeder often to enjoy them.
Chickadees
Chestnut-backed Chickadees are tiny songbirds that live in coniferous and mixed forests. They are found throughout the United States and Canada. Their diet consists primarily of insects, berries, and seeds. Chickadees can be attracted to suet feeders and black oil sunflower seeds. They are not a pest, and will happily feed at a backyard feeder.
Mountain Chickadees spend the winter in mountainous areas of the US. They make nests out of dead twigs and line them with feathers. They will also visit feeders containing all types of bird food. Their eggs are incubated for 50% longer than those of other chickadee species. Females will protect their eggs from predators by covering them when they leave them. In California, Mountain Chickadees are brown with chestnut backs and gray sides and belly.
While it may seem odd that backyard birds would eat dried mealworms, they are quite natural for these creatures. Most backyard birds feed on insects and mealworms. Mealworms are high in protein and help infant birds develop their muscles. You can also feed mealworms to your backyard birds. And don’t forget about squirrels – these pests also love mealworms and suet!
When Chickadees are feeding, be sure to provide both live and dried mealworms. You can use a dishpan or ice cream bucket to keep the mealworms alive. For more nutritious mealworms, consider hand-feeding the birds. The birds will love it! There are dozens of sources for dried mealworms and a whole world of other feeder options. Don’t forget to share your success stories! You won’t regret it!
You can also provide live mealworms, which are a great source of calcium and protein. However, remember that mealworms are only as healthy as the diet you give them. It is also important to remember that dried mealworms are not real worms, and they aren’t meant to turn into beetles. The mealworms in dried form don’t have living cells, so be careful not to overfeed them!
