“clearly live mealworms outbid the dried variety. Surprisingly they are not exclusively the most popular feed. Bluetits feeding nestlings favour the super suet ball and even more surprising Great tit couples feeding young go separate ways. One bird takes the mealworms while the other goes for the suet ball. A mystery for me is why does the greattit that takes worms bash the worm onto a branch before flying to the nest.
Adult Robins favour mealworms when feeding chicks but fledged robins favour suet. Surprisingly sparrows make no attempt to raid the protected mealworm feeder. Starlings try to tear the feeder apart and succeeded in get inside. I had to tighten the entry holes. About 50 starling devour a complete.suet ball in 20 minutes.
so I intend to use live mealworms in conjunction with suet balls. Again a surprise that goldfinches both adult and fledglings favour hearts and ignore Niger seeds!”
“I am feeding robin chicks with live mealworm at the rate of 35 grams per day.. Surprisingly Blue tits ignore the live mealworms in favour of dried. I also had a wren and Great tit taking live 'worms. Greenfinches dominate the heat seeds although sparrows hold their own”