About insect eating birds

[Krobertz]

I bought one of those hanging bird feeders with peanut butter and insects in the cake. I put it in the middle of my veggie garden 3 weeks ago. The idea is to keep the birds from flying away to better pastures this winter. The birds haven't found it, so I moved it closer to the trees where the birds like to be. They still haven't found it. Sooo, is it just too early, and they are munching live insects? Or, do I need to move it into the trees? I want them in my garden!

[Dollythehun]

Where do you live? We are avid bird watchers and feeders. I suggest you plant flowers and such that bear seeds, such as sunflowers, zinnias and the like. Shrubs like honeysuckle (the non invasive type) have spring flowers and fall berries the birds enjoy. They also provide cover and a nesting spot. When we feed, we use a high quality seed in a squirrel proof feeder. Low priced seed often is full of filler, like millet which only a few birds enjoy. Black sunflower, hulled sunflower, and nuts and seeds are always a hit. Seed cakes such as you hung up are okay but not an attractant. You want to look at habitat as a whole. You might Google that how to. Here is a picture of a corner of our garden. It is generally full of birds and pollinators.

[Arizona Jeanie]

I've tried feeding various forms of dead meal worms, the birds were never very interested. When I put out some live meal worms, the birds go crazy for them. It's not hard to raise your own meal worms, but not what I care to be doing.
During the summer, birds are voracious insect eaters, and insects are (with very few exceptions) what songbirds feed their nestlings. When cold weather puts the bugs to bed, most birds move to warmer climates.
Instead of feeding insects, try putting out a high-fat suet, the more fat the better. The one I use is peanut-butter based and 35% fat, but just check what is available in your area. It nutritionally replaces those fat insects and caterpillars, the birds will find it fast and dig in.
Here's a link to some general information you might find interesting:
About Suet, Mealworms, and Other Bird Foods | All About Birds

[bil]

In the UK, you put out a bird feeder, and before too long they are fighting over them. I know of people who have 20 feeders i their garden.

I put some out here in Spain, and NOTHING. Not one bird has shown the slightest interest in them.

[Dollythehun]

You can.mix dried mealworms with your seed. Many nut and seed eating birds also eat insects. Woodpeckers Sapsuckers, and eastern bluebirds to name a few.

[estación seca]

Different birds eat different things. You can read about what kinds of birds eat different kinds of food. It can take them a while to find your feeder, but once they do, they remember it.

[Ray]

I use black oil sunflower seed as my staple for feeders, and dried mealworms for the bluebirds and robins. Wrens go for both.

[Dollythehun]

Ditto. I mix them in w our hulled sunflower. Water year round is important too. Its not about any one thing, its about creating suitable habitat.