The last little while, I have tried something completely new and different.
I bought some organic black soil, put some of it into 8x8 tin foil pans, scattered bird seeds on top, and sprayed them several times a day, then covered the trays loosely with plastic wrap into which I poked little holes...
In what seemed like no time, I had seeds sprouting everywhere, then growing into a variety of lush green sprouts, which I then placed in the sun.
When they reached an inch to an inch and a half tall, I popped them into the flights, trays, soil, sprouts and all.
Well, all of my birds went wild all over them. It was like having a herd of tiny goats in there.
Then I noticed something odd in the Waxbill's flight.
While the other birds consumed the greens, and sprouting seeds with relish, the Waxbills seemed to take it a step further.
Slowly the soil itself appeared to be disappearing from the tray.
At first I put it down to them scattering the soil around the tray or around the flight, but saw very little evidence of this.
Finally it struck me, that they must be eating some of the soil
Now, please let me reassure everyone, that my birds have plenty of food and then some at all times.
So what is it in the soil that they are finding so appealing and which by the way appears to be agreeing with them???
Any thoughts???
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