Gardeners are being encouraged to put out mealworms to attract wrens to their gardens during the spring nesting season, which runs from March to September. Wrens are known for their insect-eating habits, making them natural pest controllers.
According to Sean McMenemy, founder of Ark Wildlife, offering mealworms is the best way to spot these tiny birds. 'Live is best, but even dried mealworms can provide a useful boost and may tempt them into view, if only for a moment,' he told Ideal Home.
Mealworms are rich in protein and calories, making them ideal for wrens during breeding season and colder weather. Gardeners can scatter them in feeders or directly on the ground, helping parent wrens nourish their chicks.
Horticultural expert Sarah Raven recommends planting panicum, myrtle, amaranth, crab apple trees and sunflowers to provide natural food sources. These plants attract insects that wrens feed on. McMenemy added, 'Planting a mix of foliage and flowering plants helps build a natural food source, encouraging insects that wrens depend on.'
Really Wild Bird Food advises placing mealworms in ground-level feeders or trays, as wrens forage near the ground. They also suggest scattering mealworms in sheltered areas under dense vegetation for added security.
