Desperate for Worms

Just call me crazy! And next year I will be crazy and prepared!

We have Robins nesting just outside our office window and the nest is above our feeding area where we have been throwing dried cranberries out for the Robins. Smart birds. The eggs hatched a couple days ago. But we have been incredibly dry, so the earth worms are not readily available for the Robin parents. I read somewhere that you could wet an area of ground and should be able to dig up some worms. I tried this and no worm in sight.

Today, I go to PetSmart and bought their one and only tub of live mealworms and this contained only 50. The Robins found this, filled its bill and flew up to the nest with it. Well, I need more worms! The first online place I tried ordering from, for whatever reason, none of the payment options were available. Another site is shut down due to family tragedy and several others are not shipping live worms due to the heat. I was hoping to find a site within Iowa, but none are near by. I found one place shipping worms, but they only ship live worms on Mondays.

I have a large tub of dried mealworms. I've mixed them with seed in the winter for a little protein to whatever birds will eat them. I read they are just the shell, so I don't want to set these out and the Robins give these to the babies. With it being so dry, would Robins give to their young what is readily available, but maybe not the best for them?

I read on one site that you can reconstitute the dried worms with cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. This is what the site says, " Also, the cold press olive oil is tasteless, has lots of anti-oxidants, plus amino acids, and never goes rancid." So this will boost nutrition for the babies if the parents are willing to give them?

You would think I was the babies' mama with my concern for them. It's been a little interesting with the up-close nesting we've had this year. We've got eleven day old Barn Swallows on the porch and you know what I did? I put old pillows below the nest in case any babes fall out too soon.

Thank you for any and all suggestions.

Where do people buy worms for fishing in your area? You need a bait shop, maybe, rather than a bird seed store.

Robins will look for other bugs and grubs, also... and they'll feed the babies bits of fruit and "green stuff" as well. I've read various suggestions for feeding orphan robins, including hardboiled egg yolk, dog food (canned or moistened), and bits of berries/cherries... the adults may welcome some of the same, especially as your pair are already accustomed to dried cranberry "hand-outs."

I know the reality is that some baby birds make it and some don't... but it's hard to resist helping if you can when there's a nest right under your nose so to speak. Robins next regularly in a really precarious spot on our front porch, and it seems I'm always putting something out there when the babies start getting bigger & more active... old towels or a big plant pot, something softer than landing on concrete!

Wonderful suggestions! Thank you! Bait will be easier to find and I know of a couple places close by. Dog food and eggs we've got. I was out today after a brief rain and it is already very warm. We're in a heat warning until Saturday morning.

I called one place today and all they sell are nightcrawlers. The location is handy because my husband will pass it on the way home from work.

I've been putting the mealworms in an ice cream bucket lid and they haven't been able to get out of that. Nightcrawlers are bigger, so what should I use to keep them contained that the Robins won't mind eating off of?

Not sure... wonder if your robins would land on a tarp or sheet? Maybe a 1020 tray (if you do seed starting, they're the ones that hold the sets of 6-packs) or big plant saucer would do the trick? If you can open the window and toss down a nightcrawler, they might well be on it before it can dig down into that dry earth... I think you're going to have fun with this! I also think the robins would probably "make do" without help, but it's fun to feed the birds, and it may well give them a better chance of having all the nestlings fledge.

My dad always tells me I don't need to feed the birds in summer when there's plenty of food... but I don't do it because they "need" it, I do it so they come close to the house (where the feeder is) so I can see them!

:-)

This last spring, the Robins were wild about my holly berries. I suggest you keep supplying fruit, such as blueberries, etc. If you have a feeding area that they will come to, you might try some home-made suet. There are very few birds that will not partake of Malinda's mix on the Sialis website.

My husband picked up a container of worms and I do throw them out the window. I try to wait until a Robin is close, but not too close otherwise they fly away. If I throw it just right, they will come right over and get it. That's been fun to watch!

I keep throwing out the berries for them. And one Robin has been going for the jelly I have out.

I used to avoid feeding in the summer, for that same reason, critterologist, but I read somewhere that during nesting season it makes it easier for the parents since they can grab a quick snack between feedings.

I haven't put out much seed today. We got overrun by grackles. A few never bothered me, but now we're getting dozens. They scare off the other birds from the platforms. :(

Hi Chillybean -
I have two birdbaths, but in the Summer I put at least a couple of large clay flower pot trays on the ground with water in them. So what does this have to do with worms & bugs for hungry Robins?

When I rinse and fill them I let the ground get wet all around and underneath. Then the next time I pick up the trays to empty out the water and refill, there are tons of worms, grubs, slugs, etc., underneath. I move the trays over just a little exposing what's underneath for any hungry birds. The tray keeps the ground cool and wet so there's a constant supply of slimy critters.

Possibly you could do something similar in the area where the Robins are. It might certainly add to any other supply of worms you find and also give the Robins a nearby source of water. Corrugated cardboard is also a good way to collect wormy critters if you lay it on the ground, especially if it's wet.

Good luck with the Swallows, too. Many years ago I raised (two years in a row) Cliff Swallows that had fallen from their mud nests under a bridge. Luckily they fell onto a soft muddy area on a creek bank. At the time I was doing some wildlife rehab on a voluntary basis. Since Swallows catch their food on the wing, it was quite a challenge, but I successfully released them both years.

Hope these ideas are of use to you. I'll try to think of some others.