FLEDGLINGS IN THE GARDEN

The birds in the garden have got a new source of food, and they’re making the most of the bounty at a crucial time for their young.

While the mealworms aren’t a natural resource found in the garden, they are a natural food for birds, which is why I buy them at this time of year.

It gives the birds a boost when they need it, particularly when the parents are exhausted while trying to feed their young.

The parents get a readily available food source and the chicks valuable nourishment, meaning parents are less tired and youngsters are well fed.

They are only available in the morning and evening, and even then only a small amount are provided; this is so the parents still forage for food and provide the chicks with a ‘balanced diet’.

The house sparrows, great tits and blackbirds are the birds currently making the most of the mealworms.

One female blackbird keeps on trying to fill her beak with more and more mealworms. Unfortunately every time one drops out of her beak she faces the marauding house sparrows that pick them off the ground quicker than the female can stuff them back in her crammed beak.

The blackbird then goes back for more, only to lose a couple to the house sparrows again, before flying off back to her nearby nest to feed her growing young.

The great tits aren’t far off fledging, but they have been beaten to it by the house sparrows; I have so far seen three youngsters begging for food from parents, in the garden.

The warmer weather has certainly helped the birds and there does seem to be a plethora of caterpillars this year.

I wonder if we’re going to see multiple broods from many birds this year. I guess only time and probably a review in September will tell,