On Tue, 23 May 2006 17:39:59 +0100, Janet Baraclough wrote
(in article ):

The message et
from Sacha Hubbard contains these words:

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?

I bought some at huge expense ( from CJ Wildbirds) and the birds
wouldn't look at them even when the MW's crawled over the edge of the
feedholder, dropped to the ground, and offered a safari -hunting
experience to any bird with a beak. I swear not a single mealworm got
eaten. I hated the way they rustled around in their little mealworm pen
indoors, too. ISTR the tag end of the batch pupated.

The only possible effect on garden bird numbers here, would have been
a reduction as birds departed in disgust to seek some nice traditional
birdfood elsewhere.


I'm almost relieved to hear you say this. One of my daughters has been ON at
me to get some of these things and while I'm extremely keen to get the birds
into the garden, I can't help feeling absolutely revulsion for these worms.
I gather one can buy a 'breeding kit' which is my idea of a rolling
nightmare! We already get various bugs (the good predator kind) delivered
in the post and until I put my foot down with a firm hand, they were being
put in the house fridge. Despite the fact they were firmly sealed up in
their little jars and boxes, I really hated it so when I became chatelaine of
HHN, a new fridge was bought and put out in the nursery! The very thought of
starting all over again made me feel horrified but my offspring-stirred
conscience was pricking me! I'll subdue it, firmly.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon

On Tue, 23 May 2006 23:08:44 +0100, K wrote
(in article ):

Sacha Hubbard writes
On Tue, 23 May 2006 17:39:59 +0100, Janet Baraclough wrote
(in article ):


I'm almost relieved to hear you say this. One of my daughters has been ON
at
me to get some of these things and while I'm extremely keen to get the birds
into the garden, I can't help feeling absolutely revulsion for these worms.
I gather one can buy a 'breeding kit' which is my idea of a rolling
nightmare! We already get various bugs (the good predator kind) delivered
in the post and until I put my foot down with a firm hand, they were being
put in the house fridge. Despite the fact they were firmly sealed up in
their little jars and boxes, I really hated it so when I became chatelaine
of
HHN, a new fridge was bought and put out in the nursery! The very thought
of
starting all over again made me feel horrified but my offspring-stirred
conscience was pricking me! I'll subdue it, firmly.
--
If all your grub eating birds are gorging themselves on mealworms, they
won't be out and about doing their job of biological control of pests on
your plants ;-)


What a dilemma! My thinking was that we would encourage *more* birds in with
the mealworms but also help them to feed their young, thus ensuring a larger
population etc. etc.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
email address on web site

Sacha Hubbard writes
On Tue, 23 May 2006 23:08:44 +0100, K wrote
(in article ):

--
If all your grub eating birds are gorging themselves on mealworms, they
won't be out and about doing their job of biological control of pests on
your plants ;-)


What a dilemma! My thinking was that we would encourage *more* birds in with
the mealworms but also help them to feed their young, thus ensuring a larger
population etc. etc.


Look - do you want help with arguments against using mealworms or don't
you? ;-)
--
Kay "never let the facts spoil a good story"