Mealworms

Birds that don't normally visit feeders, such as bluebirds, robins, wrens, and some warblers, are attracted to mealworms. Regular feeder birds, including Gray catbirds, Chipping sparrows, Northern cardinals, Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted grosbeaks, and Northern orioles, are also easily attracted to the tasty mealworms.

Mealworms may be offered in old breakfast food bowls or shallow plastic food dishes that are too slick on the sides for the mealworms to climb. Place the bowls or dishes in an open area where the movement of the mealworms will attract the birds' attention.

Try placing a mixture of mealworms, peanuts, and sunflower seeds on a small, bare patch of soil, about twelve inches in diameter, near a hedge. Placing it on the ground may attract Brown thrashers to your feeder. Mealworms can be purchased at pet stores or bait shops.