Another interesting fact

[FUDGEY]

Something else I seen on TV a while back was that Starlings when feeding young only bring a small meal back when searching for worms close to the nest and if they are flying a greater distance they come back with a bigger beak full. Just been observing this at my nest box and sure enough when it lands in the garden behind the nest site it pops back in with a small worm and when it flies 500 yards to the golf course it comes back with a bunch of them.

[Hedge Witch]

Interesting point FUDGEY. I wonder how much is to do with optimal foraging strategy (or whatever the term is) and how much is to do with the fact that most of the worms have now been eaten in your garden?

[FUDGEY]

Its nothing to do with availability hedge, in the study they put out 100s of meal worms in small compartments. they put some beside one nest and the parents only took small amounts and kept coming back and forward, but at another nest at distance they took loads. Its weird how with a plentiful supply the one close didnt make the most of it????

[Hedge Witch]

It certainly is a weird concept for us because that's what most humans do, in those circumstances. I wonder why birds do that? Do you think they "worry" that on longer journeys some worms will fall out of their beaks, so get more? Or do they try and preserve stocks close to home, where they keep a watchful eye on supplies?

[FUDGEY]

Someone else will have to answer that q :-)