Encyclopaedia of Birdcare

Live Foods

The idea of feeding living animals to birds is not new, but only in recent years has it become a trouble-free option for feeding birds in the garden. Mealworms are the usual live food provided, but waxworms can also be bought for this purpose. Neither of these creatures is actually a worm, the first being the larva of the Meal Beetle and the other that of the Wax Moth. Real worms can also be purchased for feeding. These animals can be sent through the post and storage is not a problem. They offer a highly nutritious diet for insectivorous birds, and the fondness of Robins for mealworms has long been known. Live food is particularly valuable during the breeding season, and in cold or wet weather when natural supplies of invertebrates are low. They can be provided for birds in a steep-sided bowl or using a special feeder with a deep tray, such as the Robin Feeder/Seed Saver (model X-1) produced by Droll Yankees Inc..

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