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Bluebird feeding - Philosophy (Part 3)In addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website:
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 19:13:30 -0400 Hello All: Up to this point I have discreetly avoided entering the exchange of ideas regarding mealworm feeding. For the past two years I have not lost one nestling on my small trail due to suppplementing mealworms especially during inclement weather. The primary purpose of supplying housing & proper habitat is to preserve and enhance the population of the cavity nesters. The nestlings all fledged on time with no indication of malnutrition. In addition, I have observed parents feeding insects to nestlings and fledglings while mealworms were readily available and the parents were aware of this having already taken some from the feeder. Several yrs. ago while raising an orphan Eastern Bluebird (see Sialia The Summer of the Bluebird, Spring 1994, Vol 16 No. 2) I captured insects and purchased crickets and mealworms to give a varied diet to the orphan. Let us give the parents some credit for knowing what is good for their offspring, they do indeed vary the diet with insects. Betty Nichols, Middletown, MD Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 17:28:09 -0700 Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif. Betty's observations are similar to what I am observing on my 40-box trail. This year, some nestbox neighbors along my 2-hole trail have taken an active interest in helping bluebirds and are offering mealworms on a regular basis at nestbox sites near them and/or boxes in distress (single parents). Both last year and this year, the weather has been very mild. But last year, I was still finding a few dead feathered chicks after a fledge. But this year (with mealworms being offered more often), the only feathered dead chick occurred at one of the sites that was not being supplemented. About 80 chicks have fledged so far, with 90% of the hatchlings fledging. Note: The 30 boxes (1-holers) at the golf course aren't being offered mealworms regularly, but a comparison can't be made at this time because only 3 chicks have fledged from that trail (not sure why it is so late compared to the 2-hole trail). Elizabeth Nichols wrote: Hello All: Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 07:17:13 -0400 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Nichols" birdlady"at"netstorm.net You wrote: Let us give the parents some credit for knowing what is good for Betty, Not always. I was witness to a mealworm feeder that was always stocked, always available, with unlimited access. I sat and watched two adult bluebirds make trip after trip after trip for almost two hours. And it wasn't just bluebirds. Chickadees and nuthatches and other birds were making use of the mealworms as well. It was surreal, and really sad, to see all these birds reacting to an unnatural food source. I'm not against feeding mealworms, if it is done with restraint and moderation. Brenda Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 09:34:15 -0400 Dear Betty and Brenda. My observations (having fed mealworms only at home, no feeding on my trail in a park) suggests that when food is plentiful, the mealworms are not used as much. So, the parents use the mealies to supplement (not replace) the natural food they find. On real warm and sunny days, most of the mealies remain in the feeder. On cold and rainy days, they eat them all! Of course, I know what is good for my pocket, so I cannot afford to put an *unlimited supply* of worms in the feeder (like Brenda describes below!!!) Perhaps since I feed a measured amount, but very regularly, the birds use what I give them to vary their diet. It also helps them in cold times when insects and berries cannot be found... Fawzi ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brenda Best" jabbest"at"americu.net ... Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2001 13:59:21 -0700 (PDT) Hello everyone...I'm interested in learning what various people's methods & techniques are in getting their Bluebirds to come to their feeders..such as whistling, tapping on the feeder, ringing a bell, etc. after you put their food in their feeder. This is all part of Bluebird behavior which I study & am very interested in. What I'm doing is as follows...about mid-morning & sometimes afternoon, I put in some peanut butter suet crumbs or small pieces in their feeder & then come inside the house. Occasionally a male EABL will come & stand on the feeder pole & proceed to eat some suet before I've made it back into the house. But most of the time as I'm heading back into the house, I don't see or hear any of them at that point. When back in the house, I go get my EABL CD player & raise a window & proceed to play their song & calls just a couple of times. Sometimes after just 1 song/call, either the male or female or both simultaneously show up & go get the suet. This has worked much better for me than lip whistling or blowing my hand held whistle in the past...So I'm curious what people's different experiences are in doing this. You can mention what food you're giving them & whether the birds are nesting in your yard, also. I haven't had any nesting EABL this year, just my neighbor's...Thanks for you responses....Horace in NC. ===== Date: 22 Jul 2001 23:24:08 -0000 Hello EveryBIRDie! Since BCCH (black-capped chickadees) are cavity-nesting birds, guess I'm "safe" as being on topic! To respond to Horace's inquiry, I'm still a "bluebird wannabe," however, I'm enjoying feeding our BCCH meal worms. They usually appear approximately similar times (e.g. 8-9:30 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. and also in-between). Initially, I used the DinnerSong cassette for Chickadees; now, I often call "Here, chick-a-dee-dee-dee; here chick-a-dee-dee-dee; dee-dee-dee; dee-dee-dee," etc., because I want them to come to my voice, for winter-time feeding, without having to take the cassette recorder outside with me. And, coincidentally, if they are in the area (if out of voice range, you're
"whistling Dixie," as the Yankee cliche goes), they'll often appear within about
5-10 minutes. Sometimes, they'll quietly "pop" onto the deck railing or nearby
tree. At other times, they'll answer from a tree farther away; and eventually,
work their way to me. They're a DEElight! Happy bluebirding! Stan ... Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2001 20:14:48 EDT Horace: Your report is very interesting. We had one nesting box with EABLs in it this year and they have fledged. I fed mealworms for most of the nesting time and now into the fledgling stage. I have whistled each time I put the worms out, but if they are not around, the whistling does not bring them. They seem to come more by sight than anything. I like to think the whistling helps, but I do not really think it does. I would be interested in hearing from others. Judy Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2001 20:06:29 -0500 Hello All - I have found that the feeding time is the one thing that seldom varies in the bluebirds coming to the feeders. Their schedule is like clockwork. I whistle, talk and bang on the side of the feeder, but if it is not in keeping with their feeding time, it's hit or miss as to whether or not they come flying in. Bruce J Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2001 22:03:28 EDT I have a special whistle which I give. It's really not special, but I've been using the exact same rhythm and notes for years now. Sometimes the bluebirds see me come out the door and race to wait for food; sometimes they see me come down the driveway and do that too. However, if they aren't in the visible vicinity, and I keep whistling that whistle, they will come right to the feeder. Nancy Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 11:38:56 -0400 Horace and all-- I feed mealies every morning about 7:30 to two bluebird pairs at two Jennabird feeders, one in front of our house, one in back. The bluebirds typically look for me to arrive with the mealies and then begin eating as soon as I depart. But if I vary the feeding time, say by an hour, by then they will have left the immediate area and may not return to check out the feeder for a couple of hours. One pair feeds a couple of three-week-old fledglings that sit on top of their feeder. The second pair carries their worms up into the trees to feed week-old fledglings. The blues investigated the feeders as soon as we put them up in our yard in the spring. I think the 1 1/2" entrance holes on each end of the feeders sparked their curiosity. Diane Seward Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 11:35:29 -0500 Snip Hello all - I have noticed that several posts on this Message end up with the bluebirds coming in to feed after the person supplying the feed leaves the area. It has been my experience that if you stand or sit quietly at a thirty foot or so distance, the birds will quickly learn to tolerate your presence. This distance can be decreased a few feet at a time and the birds can be observed close up. With a lot of time and patience they will eat from your hand. Don't worry about getting them too tame, you won't. Any change in persons or such a minor thing as feeding them our of a slightly different location of a few feet, or a different person will spook the birds and they will not have anything to do with you. Best regards, Bruce Johnson ~ Life Mbr. NABS Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 14:31:34 -0400 Bruce, et al: I have had two different pair of EABL in my yard this year. I know because the 2nd daddy is much darker than the first one and the 2nd mama is paler than the first one. My 2nd daddy would swoop down at me all the time while I was putting the mealies in the feeder and if I tried putting some in my hand and put it out - was trying to get him to feed from my hand, but didn't succeed. I feed my blues mealworms. I feed them about 7:30 a.m. and again when I get home about 5:00-5:30 p.m. When the eggs were first laid and the babies first hatched daddy would fly to the wire attached to our house the minute I pulled in the driveway, because he knew my car. Anyway - I have a bluebird feeder - the one with the plexiglass sides and holes in the end, but I have taken the one side of plexiglass out. It is hanging from a plant hanger in my front yard I have a pair of bluebird houses with a homemade pipe perch in between them. Here's the layout of my front yard: Bluebird House I walk out either my back door or front (doesn't matter) and give a whistle (the kind like you are trying to get someone's attention). Most of the time the blues are there even before I call. Sometimes they come within a whistle or two. Now that my babies fledged about a week ago, it takes a little longer because mama and daddy aren't hanging around my front yard as much. But they still come. Most of the time my blues are at the feeder when I turn around and start walking back to my house, depending on how hungry they are - they could be in there when I'm only 5 feet away. Most of the time I sit on my front porch which is only about 25 feet from the feeder and just watch them feed. They will sit on top of the feeder or a house and chatter at me - like I shouldn't be there, but I just love watching them eat and do their wing waving! Thanks! At 11:35 AM 7/23/2001 -0500, Bruce Johnson wrote: ... Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 16:39:45 -0400 I have been reading in wonder at the number of people feeding mealworms. Isn't anyone worried that these bluebirds will not learn to forage properly for themselves, or that they will lose their necessary wariness of humans? Am I the only one besides Gary who is concerned with such questions? I don't mean to carp or spoil anyone's fun, but I find all this somewhat alarming. I can understand feeding mealies during late spring snowstorms or other natural catastrophes, when no food is available for birds, or for a photo shoot, but these everyday feeding routines worry me. Dot Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 16:32:24 -0500 Snip Dot & all - Your question is a valid one. My personal experience is that regardless of how much you feed and have contact with bluebirds, they still remain wary on you. Like cats, they do whatever pleases them or fits their needs at the time, even if they know you. If they don't know and trust you to some extent, forget it, they will have nothing to do with you. If the bluebirds have never received any food during the year, I would hope that they would show up for food at your yard, but there is no reason why they would if they have never received food there before. When the babies fledge you have a few weeks to interact with them and they are gone permanently to forage for themselves. Evidently they prefer it that way and I'm glad they want their independence, total and quickly. I have spent hundreds of hours feeding bluebirds and they are still the same wild and beautiful birds when they leave for wherever they go during the off months as they were when they arrived in early spring. I have always understood and enjoy the fact that they are taking advantage of me and not the other way around. Best regards, Bruce Johnson ~ Life Mbr. NABS Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 15:02:49 -0700 Dear Dot and friends, I'm with you and Gary on this one. I feel that the occasional helping hand is all right, but habitual use of meal worms to me is a big NO! I like to see the BBs do their work in our vineyards. Back an forth to the nesting boxes feeding their broods, Bio-Diversity in action. However, all that could stop if one just handed out the meal worms like popcorn at a theater because they would eventually forget how to hunt for them self's. It only takes a generation or 2 then you can spell trouble with a capital "T" my friends. Remember the post that I did some months ago about Cannery Row, where hundreds of SeaGulls almost starved to death after the canneries where closed because generations after generations of Seagulls depended on the canneries for food and forgot how to forage. California Fish and Game ended the problem by bring in wild Seagulls from the San Francisco bay area to teach the others how to forage. Now aren't we as Bluebirders doing the same thing by supplying meal worms in the same fashion and who will undue the damage once it is done. Keep in mind that Bluebirds migrate. If you keep them around to long (with meal worms) they could very well get caught in a winter storm and die under our good intentions. How does the old saying go, "The road to disaster is paved with good intentions". I think it best to use a little restraint where meal worms are concerned. Lets not forget that Bluebirds are wild birds and should not be treated like domesticated birds. I love Bluebirds just the way they are WILD, FREE and that's the way they should BE. Happy Bluebird Trails To You, Bill & Dot Forrester wrote: I have been reading in wonder at the number of people feeding mealworms. ... Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 18:22:50 -0400 Dot and all-- I think of the mealies as a vitamin supplement, something to give the new fledglings, especially, a little head start and ease the chores of the parents just slightly. The feedings at my house do not even begin to meet the daily requirements of the fledglings and parents. Perhaps others can comment on any adverse effect this practice has on learning to forage. Diane Seward Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 15:41:57 -0700 (PDT) I, too, feed the mealies as Diane does... as supplements, and the bluebirds
love them -- especially when they are feeding their babies. I can also confirm I also call out to the blues as I walk out to feeder (Jake and Ellie... a
little variation of the "blues brothers"), and within seconds at least one
arrives, many times both. Sometimes the male will load up and bring the female
and the babies the mealies. The male is more tolerant than the female, but both
will allow --- "Seward, Elizabeth D." ... Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 20:32:10 -0500 Hello John & all - Snip I would think we are not comparing apples to apples in comparing the Sea Gull situation described above to Bluebirds. There is a big difference between feeding generation after generation the year round in one area Vs. handing out a small percent of a bluebirds daily diet needs for a few weeks or months time. In the case of the fledglings it is normally for a few weeks, then they launch out on their own, in most cases never returning, or only for short visits. Bluebirds are beautiful, gentle and wild creatures. I have never known one to lose any one of these virtues. Best regards, Bruce J ----- Original Message ----- ... Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 23:17:22 -0500 Steve Garr Bluebirders, In your discussion on feeding bluebirds few have mentioned the benefits other than the enjoyment. I always recommend putting a nest box near a vegetable garden to help control garden caterpillars, the same is true about a bluebird feeder. Most people feed their bluebirds early in the morning, mealworms are just an appetizer for the rest of the insects in your yard. I am not new at feeding bluebirds, the bluebirds and I have shared some wonderful experiences over the past 16 years. Before using feeders I would put their food on rocks or stumps, even on the top of their nest box. It always amazed me how possessive the bluebirds were over their food, fighting off starlings, robins and even red bellied woodpeckers. The bluebird feeder has made it more enjoyable for me and less hassle for the bluebird. I have tried almost every style of bluebird feeder there is and have 6 different styles of feeders in my yard at the present time. One important benefit of feeding bluebirds is the lack of insects in my yard, and it's not just because I have bluebird nest boxes. My neighbors also have nest boxes, they are part of my trail, but the bluebirds start their day in my yard at my feeders. My nieghbors often have tent caterpillars and I have enjoyed watching the adults teach the juveniles what an easy food sourse tent caterpillars are, and the bluebirds don't eat all the caterpillars, they come back the next day and eat some more. I have also seen bluebirds ignore mealworms when the mulberries were ripe. Then there was the year the locust were so bad, farmers had better than normal berry crops because the birds had an abundance of locust to eat. One bluebird feeder not mentioned yet is my butterfly garden with a crop of fennel, dill and parsley for the butterflies to lay their eggs. These produce plump caterpillars and sometimes beautiful butterflies. Another visiter to my mealworm feeder is our chickadee. Some people don't realize that chickadees are also insect eaters. Insects and caterpillars are their main diet when feeding their young, other times during the year you may watch them eating whiteflies. I enjoy watching chickadees hang upside-down holding onto the bagworm with their feet pulling the worm out with their beek for a tasty meal. Having bluebird feeders in my yard is another way for me to increase the number of insect eating birds in my yard, and decrease the number of insects without harmful chemicals and sprays. Steve Garr Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 08:41:55 -0400 Everyone: I may feed mealies to my blues twice a day, but only put out a handful during each of those times. There are many times I look out the window after putting out the mealies to see my blues diving down to my yard and picking up all kinds of bugs, worms, etc. instead of getting the easy access mealies. Also, I've noticed the last 2 days that my blues haven't been coming to my feeder as quickly or not at all when I whistle and put the mealies out. I've noticed on nice days - sunny, warm, etc. that they don't feed at my feeder as much as they do when it's raining or just a gloomy day. During the winter last year I had NO blues come to my feeder at all. It was kind of like the hummers - I kept putting food out for about a week or so after the last blue/hummer I saw and then discontinued, figuring they have gone south for the winter. These observations by a VERY NOVICE bluebirder (this is only my 2nd year) confirm to me that the blues are not dependent on me for food and that I am not interfering with their natural hunting instincts or their possible migration south during the winter. Thank you! At 04:32 PM 7/23/2001 -0500, Bruce Johnson wrote: Snip ... Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 08:45:03 EDT To all, I usually just sit and read the digested posts of Bluebird-L every morning from the day before. Every once in a while, my feathers get ruffled and I decide to post or vent. And while I try to make it brief, 3 paragraphs or less, its sometimes hard. Especially when I spend the first paragraph as an introduction as to why I post. My opinion - Feeding bluebirds is a personal decision, just like House Sparrow control methods and what type of nesting box to use. Comparing backyard bluebird feeding to Seagulls because of an incident where "hundreds of Seagulls almost starved to death after the canneries where closed because generations after generations of Seagulls depended on the canneries for food and forgot how to forage" is not apples and apples. I don't think it is possible to have "generations after generations" of bluebirds to stay in the same backyard and get addicted to mealworms. And I also don't think that there are too many bluebirders who could afford to buy enough mealworms to feed hundreds of bluebirds for any extended period of time. Not to get too sarcastic, but the same analogy can be applied to providing fresh water in bird baths and backyard ponds. To much of anything can be dangerous, and the same goes with water. That same analogy could be used with providing artificial nesting boxes and so on. Demographics makes such a huge difference. I have a bluebird trail of 25 paired nesting boxes on a neighboring farm where the fields are rented out for crops. It pains me everytime I hear the tractor on the farm this time of year because I know he isn't planting or picking. He is spraying. I dare not approach him to find out what he is spraying, he already has heartburn with the locations of some of the nesting boxes. We just politely keep our silent distances, and I keep replacing the nesting boxes he keeps knocking down. At least I know what is in the mealworms the bluebirds are eating in my back yard. I couldn't tell you what is in the insects that the bluebirds are feeding their babies from the fields. If it kills plants and insects, it can't be good for the baby bluebirds. I personally feed bluebirds for many different reasons. I am currently video taping a complete bluebird family coming to my feeder so I can show it this weekend at a couple of bluebird programs I am giving at our local Farm Fair. Nothing sparks the interest more of a passer by than a beautiful bluebird feeding its young. Planting conservation seeds this weekend will increase conservation awareness for future generations. This seed planting may not have anything to do with bluebirds, but it may get someone into some sort of conservation in the future. Bluebirds are just one of many vehicles that can be used to get people to wake up and help out. I can agree to disagree, I do it everyday. I just ask the same from everyone else. David A. Magness Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 08:43:53 -0400 To: BB-L & WLI, I'd be the first to agree that Bluebirds LOVE mealworms - no question whatever about that. My questions are: 1.) Do they really need them? 2.) Are they nutritionally harmless? 3.) Do they make the Bluebirds too reliant on this artificial source? These are questions, not assertions. I LOVE chocolate, knockwurst, ribs, pig's knuckles, etc., but Peg tells me they're not good for me, and she's never wrong. (¥) Of course, part of the equation here is the fact that none of my 62 houses is in our yard. The closest is more than a mile away. Maybe if I had houses right in our yard, or even visible from our house, or even at walking distance, I might feed more mealworms. Who knows? It would be hard NOT to. And as I've suggested, mealworms are certainly beneficial to people who invest in Grubco and Rainbow. Bruce Burdett, NH Bluebird Conspiracy, Sunapee NH Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 08:06:18 -0500 Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas As with any type of feeder that draws any bird to the same spot we have to monitor the site and area for safety from predators. Is your feeder safe from cats? Remember that they can easily jump to 6 feet off of an object. Is your feeder potentially teaching other birds to feed from an entrance hole? Remember that several on the list have reported grackles and other birds not normally associated with going to an entrance hole feeding from these feeders. I don't have a problem with bluebirders feeding mealworms a couple times a day BUT the majority of people beginning to buy and feed mealworms will not care about feeding just "blues". We blame cheap bird seed for spreading and saving House Sparrows. What will happen when some of these folks have old worn out feeders and begin allowing starlings to feed from them? What if starlings begin to consider every pole mounted creation a possible nest site or food source? What if some of these deaths of eggs and babies we are all blaming on House wrens are really starlings looking in the entrance and seeing the new born babies as a food source for their young? The latest issue of "The Bluebird" is reopening again the debate of shallow nestboxes and large entrance holed boxes being approved and written up in NABS publications. I was surprised when few if any people actually saw a Cooper or sharp shinned hawk EVER kill a bird from this list. I get up before dawn and witnessed three kills in three weeks in the predawn light that were over in the blink of an eye. One second there was a Cardinal and the next only a few feathers floating in the air! I watched the cooper hawk eat my last ring necked dove this year that I was blaming raccoons on getting them! It extracted the doves from a 600 square foot flight cage with 1 inch mesh! Just because we do not see starlings doing this is like saying these hawks don't eat birds! Time will tell whether or not we are truly benefiting the birds with feeding but we need to be especially observant and report it if we begin seeing other birds starting to enter nestboxes searching for mealworms! KK Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 09:47:38 -0400 I like the one sentence (below) which is part of David's Message. I think along the same lines. My experience with feeding Bluebirds is that it has little if any effect on the birds and nature in general. It does, however, have a very big effect on me: it makes me so happy to see them come and eat. Mealworms are not cheap, even if you make them yourself, your time will be a big expense. As a result, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to "spend" so much on feeding starlings and other birds such very expensive morsels. Most people who feed mealworms do it for a reason of their own (pleasure, photography, etc.) and sometimes for the Bluebird (single parent, too many babies, adverse weather, etc.) Either way, whether you *do* feed mealies, or you *do not* feed mealies, the Bluebirds and the balance of nature will remain unchanged. So, go ahead, do what you like, and please, let others do what they like... As long as we all want more Bluebirds, that is what counts! Fawzi in MD ----- Original Message ----- ---snip--- Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 21:04:51 -0700 Dot- This is a never-ending concern to many of us and a never-ending debate for the list. I wholeheartedly agree with you on this. Feeding on an everyday basis may seem to help the birds that might not make it otherwise but what are the long-term effects on those marginal creatures and on healthy birds? Are we delaying their learning natural foraging techniques and are we extending that two week period that Frank Gill describes as the having the highest likelihood of starvation until birds learn to forage on their own? While we can debate house sparrow control and nest box design and placement
until "the cows come home" but never reach agreement, I feel that this is an
issue that is much more cut and dried than the others. We are taking the "wild"
out of "wild birds" and, in my opinion, can be causing detrimental Judy Mellin ... Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 09:55:31 -0700 Dear Bruce and friends, While I agree with you that there is a world of difference between local opportunistic scavengers (Gulls) and aggressive migratory hunters (Bluebirds), my point was about dependency on humans for food. I also agree with you that once the Bluebirds fledge and fly off to points unknown the lessons learned along the way give them an edge over these same opportunistic scavengers. I'm also not suggesting that one should stop feeding meal worms to Bluebirds. I'm only suggesting that moderation is the key here and based on the posts (on Bluebird L) I'd say that most Bluebirders do use moderation. However, humans do tend to over do things so my original post was for those that might over indulge the Bluebirds (with "chocolate, knockwurst, ribs, pig's knuckles, etc." great illustration from Bruce Burdett). Conditioning wild birds and manuals to human intervention no mater how innocent can in fact create challenges, or potential disasters and history bears this out. I'm only recommending a little restraint. Happy Bluebird Trails To You. Bruce Johnson wrote: Hello John & all - ... Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 18:31:25 -0500 After I put out the mealworms in the feeder, I whistle 3 short whistles, similiar to calling your pet. It is amazing--it must sound like a crow; in the early morning, many a crow answers with a mimick of the same three short syllables! Lee in Missouri ----- Original Message ----- ... Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 20:34:10 -0500 Hello Everyone, As soon as the Dad stopped feeding the babies, (2-3 wks.) with their appearance at the feeder, he was almost hostile when they showed up. They would immediately leave and did not return. Also, when I would come home from work, as the days got longer, they would come later and later. I'm sure they were out foraging for food during the day. I am very glad I have fed them mealworms; and feel had it not been for my doing so with the first brood, (May-constant days of dampness, cold, and rain) they would not be alive today. Lee in Missouri ----- Original Message ----- ... Date: 25 Jul 2001 02:31:16 -0000 As a "bluebird wannabe," I'll "spout off," based upon my BCCH (black capped chickadee) experiences, in response to Bruce's questions. 1. Probably not; probably helpful in cases cited previously...weather
conditions limiting access to natural sources, single BB parent, etc. Feeding meal worms to our BCCHs -- via holding a three-inch flower pot saucer and also in the "bluebird" meal worm feeder with plexiglass sides and entrance/exit holes at each end -- is for MY enjoyment; and I am cognizant of that! "Showing them off" to friends/neighbors is also for MY amusement/entertainment. However, seeing them on occasions at our feeders of medium-chipped sunflower seeds and of peanut parts, I'm convinced that the meal worms are only a portion of their total diet. And, I'm sure that if you were to call 1-800-322-1100, surely you could get a
confirmation from Sunshine Mealworms confirming that Stan's feeding meal worms to our BCCH is a great idea! Let me know what you find out. Having the BCCH fly to our Townhome deck makes it EASY for me, too! Happy "meal worm-ing," EveryBIRDie! Stan ... Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 07:21:40 -0500 at the risk of being redundant, i would like to chime in on the topic. i have fed mealies to my bluebirds over the years, and have observed their behavior while doing so. it has been MY experience that both parents will eat them only to a point: usually, at about 2-3 weeks after fledging young, they will stop eating mealies, and so do the young. they can be coaxed into the occasional treat, but only as a supplement. i don't think there is any way in the world you can "overfeed" mealies to bluebirds...or any other species. it is an old wive's tale akin to the hummingbird story. feed hummers long enough and they will forget to fly south....now there's a good one! Phil Berry ... Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 12:18:08 -0500 David and all, Like David I don't post as often as some and I also get Bluebird-L in digest format so I may be behind in some of the topics. But... Of all the Messages posted to the list regarding the advantages of feeding or not feeding mealworms this Message in my opinion should be read and re-read by all. It illustrates that although we all are striving for betterment of cavity nesters (in particular bluebirds), we all are doing so in our own ways. This is not bad in my opinion, we should listen to the advice of experience and to the openness of new bluebirders and develop our own methods. Always keeping an open mind to the idea that the path we chose may be the wrong one. I am somewhat of an opposite of David in that I don't feed mealworms and my
boxes are not any where near my home. I must drive to my trail (about five I personally don't like the idea of feeding bluebirds from your hand as Andrew Troyer's book illustrates. But I can guarantee if given the opportunity to have a bluebird land on my hand was presented and the only way that could occur is to have a mealworm in my hand, I would be standing in line with a lot of other non-feeding bluebirders. The real topic here is how does feeding bluebirds effect the bluebirds and the bluebirders. If feeding bluebirds has no real detrimental effect (the only way I can see this could occur is if I were to place enough mealworms out that bluebirds would become absolutely dependent on my feeding them) then there is no harm to the bluebirds. On the other hand if feeding bluebirds allows a bluebirder to remain interested in bluebirding or gives the bluebirder an opportunity to expose others to bluebirds then the benefit is obvious. I guess what I am suggesting is that we should all be open to the opinions and variations of bluebirding. I can't judge whether the methods David, Keith, John, or Bruce employ on their trails are the "right" ones for my trail unless I am open to change. Jim McLochlin The Audubon Society of Omaha =
http://audubon-omaha.org/ Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 08:45:03 EDT To all, My opinion - Feeding bluebirds is a personal decision, just like House Sparrow control methods and what type of nesting box to use. Comparing backyard bluebird feeding to Seagulls because of an incident where "hundreds of Seagulls almost starved to death after the canneries where closed because generations after generations of Seagulls depended on the canneries for food and forgot how to forage" is not apples and apples. I don't think it is possible to have "generations after generations" of bluebirds to stay in the same backyard and get addicted to mealworms. And I also don't think that there are too many bluebirders who could afford to buy enough mealworms to feed hundreds of bluebirds for any extended period of time. Not to get too sarcastic, but the same analogy can be applied to providing fresh water in bird baths and backyard ponds. To much of anything can be dangerous, and the same goes with water. That same analogy could be used with providing artificial nesting boxes and so on. Demographics makes such a huge difference. I have a bluebird trail of 25 paired nesting boxes on a neighboring farm where the fields are rented out for crops. It pains me everytime I hear the tractor on the farm this time of year because I know he isn't planting or picking. He is spraying. I dare not approach him to find out what he is spraying, he already has heartburn with the locations of some of the nesting boxes. We just politely keep our silent distances, and I keep replacing the nesting boxes he keeps knocking down. At least I know what is in the mealworms the bluebirds are eating in my back yard. I couldn't tell you what is in the insects that the bluebirds are feeding their babies from the fields. If it kills plants and insects, it can't be good for the baby bluebirds. I personally feed bluebirds for many different reasons. I am currently video taping a complete bluebird family coming to my feeder so I can show it this weekend at a couple of bluebird programs I am giving at our local Farm Fair. Nothing sparks the interest more of a passer by than a beautiful bluebird feeding its young. Planting conservation seeds this weekend will increase conservation awareness for future generations. This seed planting may not have anything to do with bluebirds, but it may get someone into some sort of conservation in the future. Bluebirds are just one of many vehicles that can be used to get people to wake up and help out. I can agree to disagree, I do it everyday. I just ask the same from everyone else. David A. Magness Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 07:57:31 -0700 (PDT) Hello Everyone...I know additional feeding of mealies, suet, berries, etc. to Bluebirds isn't absolutely neccezzzry, but many people, including me, enjoy doing it because it's fun & can be helpful to their survival, especially during early Spring, when hit by unexpected storms & cold snaps. But primarily talking about mealies, I'd like to understand more thoroughly whether feeding mealies probably would influence the female's decision to nest in a box where mealies are available..compared with a box with no mealies available. Let's consider 2 cases.. 1ST CASE: both boxes with available mealies & not in direct sight of each other are located in pretty well the same open grassy territory habitat with a scattering of trees, bushes etc. & let's say both territories are ADJACENT to one another. 2ND CASE & the one I'm very interested in: Let's say a box with mealies is in a territory more treesy & bushy as compared with a box without mealies & located in a little better, more open territory. I have a friend a few miles away who says that since she's started feeding mealies to her EABL a couple years ago, she's now had 2 consequtive years of 3 EABL nesting cycles each year. Her box is in her front yard (which is open & grassy) & located very close to her front window. She feeds them mealies in her back yard. She put up another box across the street in a good habitat location in her neighbor's backyard out of sight of her own box, but with no mealies last year. Result..only nesting in her box (with mealies) & 3 nestings at that. I've had a similar experience. Briefly...I had 1 nesting last year only (did feed mealies then). This year (no EABL nesting), I didn't feed mealies in my yard..only suet, raisins, & berries. The box I put up for my neighbor (a little better more open area), starting feeding mealies right after his 1st successful EABL nesting back in beginning of May. Right after that, I observed the birds checking out my boxes to the point that I would have bet that the female was going to choose 1 of my boxes. Instead, she chose his box for the 2nd nesting. So they come to my yard for suet, but they liked his box for their 2nd nesting. So I'm thinking maybe the mealies do make a difference in 2 similar adjacent habitat territories. I'm watching to see if he gets a 3rd nesting maybe any day now. Anyway, I will probably feed them mealies next year. I'm interested in any similar experiences that anyone has or is having & your thoughts about what I've I reported....Thanks very much....Horace in NC. ===== Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 16:09:28 EDT Friends, We've been reading with great interest the postings in the "To Feed or Not to Feed" debate. It is evident that the members of this list are very well-informed, have a high degree of interest, and a great deal of experience dealing with bluebirds. We are first-year bluebird hosts, having fledged four EABBs on July 12th. The parents laid egg # 2 in their new nest today. Currently, we only have two EABB NABs type houses with predator guards up and running, but we intend to put up two more Van Ert style PVC cavity-nests next Spring. We live on two acres, with a large (2/3 acre) pond (lots of insects!), and across the street is a large state forest, beautiful and natural. Three houses down (about 1200 ft. as the bluebird flies) , an experienced bluebird landlord resides, with her beautiful bird-friendly grounds set up as an inspiration to us. We are trying to decide whether to mealworm supplement or not. Our bluebirds
have refused all efforts to supplement thus far; it's almost become comical. Some of you have expressed the opinion that mealworm feeding might make the EABBs more human-dependent; less "wild". We are giving this line of thinking a great deal of thought. Question: has this line of thought been applied to supplemental seed feeding? Does it only apply to insect-eaters, or birds who eat both seed and insects, or to all backyard birds? Do any of the members of this list have opinions on seed feeding vis-a-vis harmful effects on birds? We are dedicated birders, having hosted many a downy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, cardinal, black-capped chickadee, titmouse, Caroline wren, house and gold finch nest sites on our property. This year we added blue jay fledglings to our list. We feed fruit suet, thistle, Wild Birds Supreme mix (BOSS and Safflower) on a platform feeder, and BOSS only in a large feeder. We have a birdbath, as well. The only predators we've seen are sharp-shinned hawks and red-shouldered hawks, and they are much more prevalent during the winter months. Once we swear we saw a peregrine falcon on our property, and there is a documented nesting pair only 17 miles away on the Travelers tower in Hartford! We are really interested in hearing your opinions and look forward to learning from all of your experiences. Any advice you can give us will be welcomed. Alex and Donna Ulloa Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 18:14:58 -0400 Hi Alex and Donna and all, In my opinion only, constant mealworm feeding makes it too easy for the newly fledged chicks, and I worry that they will not learn how to find their own food in the wild when they leave the nestbox area and parents for somewhere else. I live in the snowbelt, and birders here do feed mealies when we get a late snow or freeze, only because no food is available then for babies in the box. Starvation or abandonment is too often the case otherwise, because adults must put their own survival ahead of chicks. For the remainder of the year, however, I prefer to have birds eat the natural insects that damage my garden, flowers, and trees. I think regular mealworm feeding is quite different from feeding seed and suet in the winter, primarily because all birds are now adults and have survived on natural food into the next season. Anyone who watches his feeders soon realizes that these winter birds are not feeding at them all day long. I suspect that my feeders are more for my pleasure than for helping birds survive, with the *big* exception of prolonged blizzard conditions. Unless you live in a climate like mine, you would not believe the number and variety of birds who come to eat during such storms. It makes all the heavy shoveling at the crack of dawn worth the effort! I use my winter feeders to attract many birds in the hopes that some of them will stay in my yard to nest. At the risk of sounding like a horrible person, I also use my feeders to attract kestrels and sharpie hawks. I take great pleasure in birds of prey, and doubt if a few "lost" juncos or doves here and there will matter much in the greater scheme of things. Dot (Lake Ontario snowbelt north of Syracuse NY) Some of you have expressed the opinion that mealworm feeding might make the EABBs more human-dependent; less "wild". We are giving this line of thinking a great deal of thought. Question: has this line of thought been applied to supplemental seed feeding? Does it only apply to insect-eaters, or birds who eat both seed and insects, or to all backyard birds? Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2001 10:38:06 -0700 I would agree with Dot's sentiment and possibly put another light on it. There is far more skill involved in catching an insect than in "catching" seeds. Once an insect has been eaten, it is gone but seeds live on, being transported by birds to other places where they are excreted. According to Chris Whelan, Ph. D., and naturalist at the Medewin National Tallgrass Prairie (the largest prairie restoration in the US, at the site of the former Joliet Arsenal in Central IL.), seeds are genetically programmed to ripen with fall migration. Parent plants "want" their fruits to be consumed and the seeds deposited elsewhere so that the seeds to not root near the parent and compete for resources. The further away the seeds drop, the better for the original plants. So it appears that nature's smorgasbord is open and accessible when it comes to seeds and that they are there for the taking. It is far different with insects and, therefore, the young birds have to have as much practice as possible in foraging while the parents are available to assist them. My feeling is that mealworm feeders may detract from their learning. Judy Mellin ----- Original Message ----- ... Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2001 18:31:38 -0400 From my experience at feeding mealworms to Bluebirds (around our house where
I can observe very frequently) I can state it has no significant effect on Please note, this is my opinion. I have made insignificant research on the subject! Fawzi in MD ----- Original Message ----- ---snip--- My feeling is that mealworm feeders may detract from their learning. Judy Mellin ---snip--- Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2001 22:50:01 -0400 Haleya Priest Amherst MA Dear Bluebird-L, I ditto Fawzi 100%. I have NO qualms about the babies around the feeder. They are learning to eat like the best of them. And even when there are mealworms left in the feeder, they'll hunt bugs instead. And if they come to the feeder to see if there are mealworms and there aren't, they don't hesitate to fly away and look in other places for bugs. In other words they don't sit there naively waiting for a hand-out. To me it is just like one of many potential favorite perches. If there are no bugs on one perch, bluebirds head to the next one. I personally think that those with questions about this should actually use a feeder to observe their behavior and THEN make a conclusion. I don't mean this defensively, simply that once you truly observe their minimal relationship to mealworms, you might perhaps have a different perspective. And for those new to bluebirding: It isn't essential to feed mealworms, and while it is lots of fun, it does take quite a bit of work - and I suggest that you not jump into it - there are many ways to enjoy bluebirds without having to feed them - such as offering bird baths and bird baths with sprays or dripping water! :-) H Fawzi P. Emad wrote: From my experience at feeding mealworms to Bluebirds (around our house where ... Bluebird feeding - Philosophy (Part 4) |
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