Birds are very creative when it comes to searching for food. Their ability to find seeds, insects, worms, and other foods quickly makes them unique and special. But how do birds know where worms are? Birds use their senses to find different types of food, such as worms. Please read this article to find out other ways a bird can find a worm easily.
Through the Bird’s Vision
The sense of sight is used by birds to know and find the location of the worms. Their vision is their primary tool when it comes to locating the worms, even if it is covered in the ground. The birds are equipped with excellent keen eyesight that allows them to spot the worms even if it is too far away.
The exceptional vision also allows the birds to see any changes on the soil to let them know the presence of their precious food. Any movements on the ground, particularly the soil and grass, is an excellent indicator of the presence of worms that the birds can easily see because of their keen eyes.
In addition, most of the birds come with a monocular vision where each of their eyes works independently. So, when they turn their heads on one side, it is because they are keeping an eye close to the ground. Any clues for the worms’ whereabouts will be taken advantage immediately by the birds to clamp on their food.
Through the Bird’s Hearing
The sense of hearing is also being used by birds to know the presence of the worms and where it is precisely located. Any movement of the worms will also move the soil and other small particles, which can also create noise. But these noises are not too loud for the human ear to hear. However, the bird’s acute hearing will help in hearing those noises and allow them to know the location of the worm.
The bird’s well-developed sense of hearing and sensory data allows them to hear sounds that humans cannot hear naturally easily. This sense of hearing will help pinpoint the worm’s location when it is moving in the soil.
A worm’s movement will cause some soil particles to rub each other, creating a sound that is not audible to the human ear. But these audible cues will be used by the birds for them to be able to locate and find the worms in the soil.
Through the Bird’s Touching
The bird’s sense of touching is also used to know the location of the worms on the soil. The disturbance of the surface or any slight movement on the soil will be able to alert the bird of a worm on the ground.
Birds eating worms will most likely spend some time walking around the ground to look for the food. The bird’s feet are very sensitive, allowing these feathered animals to know if there is any movement in the soil they are walking on.
In addition, some birds also come with sensitive beaks to let them check on the soil and in the ground. The beaks will be used not only for eating but also to look for the worms in the soil. It has the ability to feel the movements of the worm alerting the birds of the worm’s presence.
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Helping the Birds Find Worms in your Backyard
Much has been said about the uncanny ability of the birds to find worms using some sensory parts of their body. However, as passionate birders, we can help our feathered friends find worms easily. There are things that can be done in your garden to make sure that there is plenty of food available to make the birds keep on coming. Please see the list below.
Watering Your Backyard Daily
If you are watering your lawn every day early in the morning, it can encourage the birds to look for forms on the surface of your backyard. When the soil is wet, it will make the bird’s job of breaking the soil to look for air so easy because of the wetness of the soil early in the morning.
Proper Grass Maintenance
When the grass of your backyard is always well-trimmed, it will somehow help the bird to spot the worm on the ground quickly. A well-trimmed soil with shorter grass will make it easy for the birds to see any ground movement specifically caused by worms.
Leaving Leaves on the Ground
When you try to leave fallen leaves on the ground of your backyard, it may look dirty. However, it can also help increase the number of worms on the soil. The soil under the leaves is an ideal place for the worms, which make it easy for the birds to spot them.
Keep your Backyard in Tip-Top Shape
Always keep your backyard in excellent condition, and it brings so many benefits to the birds, especially in finding worms. When you do regular aeration and thatch removal, it is easy for the birds to check the soil and remove the worms since it is softer and looser.
Offer Mealworms
If you have the capacity to buy mealworms, then you can give this bird food to your visitors. You can put it in your bird feeder and let them eat their favorite food. Doing this step from time to time will be significantly appreciated by worms, and they will keep on coming back.
Conclusion
Knowing how do birds know where worms are will help you understand how these birds look for food. Most of the birds really like to eat worms, and birders like you should know how they do it so that you can find ways to help them eat more of this favorite food that they are constantly looking for in your backyard.