Candy for the birds
When my son was little, he had a collection of frogs in a tank in his bedroom (no less), and I had to go to the pet store a couple times a week to purchase these disgusting little black worms to feed them.
You'd put some of the squirming mass on the tip of your finger and the frogs would literally jump at your hand to eat them.
Yuck.
You can see why I am not a fan of mealworms, despite how much birds love them.
Mealworms are dessert for birds, and like kids, the birds like dessert best. But unlike cookies, cake and pie, mealworms are a vital part of a bird's summer diet as he beefs up for migration in the fall.
The good news is, the ick factor has been removed and freeze-dried mealworms are available from companies like Coles.
High in protein, fat and potassium, mealworms help maintain energy in birds. Bluebirds, flickers, woodpeckers, nuthatches, siskins and chickadees love them.
You can serve mealworms is a dish-like feeder, or mix them in with the seed in your regular feeder.
And don't forget the suet. It isn't just for winter anymore. There are plenty of brands out there that won't "melt" or spoil in the summer heat.
