A new way to keep Starlings and Grackles from mealworms...

Hello All,

As most of you know, we have fed a couple of female Robins mealworms last year...from about late May through to about mid-September. We had been lucky up until a week ago that no other birds have discovered the mealworm container (except a male Cardinal who wasn't thrilled with mealworms anyway).
Well, we had just realized yesterday that everytime Mama Robin would come over to her container, the mealworms had been all gobbled up...and her thinking that we didn't put any out for her. A few times she did catch the criminals and tried to chase them off...too late most times since there were no worms left. The Starlings and Grackles had found out about the mealworm container!

Well, DH had discovered a new way to enjoy his remote control race car...(insert devil emoticon here).
So far it has been working like a charm. Mama Robin watches from the fenceline as it scares away the Grackles and Starlings. We are hoping that soon these birds will keep away and leave the worms alone. Ron doesn't want to have to keep a vigile by the window all the time. Too bad it doesn't have bigger wheels. He'd like to roll the car out by the Woodpecker feeders too...

Here's a video...BTW, the paver stones on either side of the mealworm container are to keep it stable and from blowing away. It has been very windy here. She doesn't seem to mind since she hops up on them anyway. After she eats, a Starling comes over and then you'll see the car in action. Oh, what fun!
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/swhitney1977/?action=view¤t=1.mp4&newest=1



This message was edited Apr 5, 2011 9:23 AM

LOL, we're really having fun here. Susan, the film is not very clear, the first bird at the onset was a Robin? Then the Grackle came along a bumped the Robin away? Thank you for sharing that fun time.

He could get a remote control helicopter for the Woodpecker feeders! haha.

Hello Lily,

Glad you liked the video! 1st bird was Mama Robin...then a Starling scared her way :)

Hello Mrs_Ed,

LOL...Great concept...however, we decided to take down the Woodpecker feeders. this time of year, the Woodpeckers hardly have a chance to get to their feeders anyway...the Starlings are on the suet and nut feeders 95% of the day. Additionally, their irractic behavior brings down the chances our 5 birdhouses we now have will be occupied. We'd be happy with 1 occupancy of 5...crossing fingers for a House Wren...or House Finch. At the very least, (gasp) we'd except HOSP nesting in one of the houses if nothing else nests in them...sad to say but true :(