Zosterops

[laurab]

Hiya

I have a pair of Zosterops, I am feeding them on various fruits e.g. banana, mango, peaches (tinned at the mo), oranges, pairs etc. I am also giving them waxworms and some isectivorous/dried fruit mix.

Whilst they do eat the dried food they dislike the mealworms that are in it. They also enjoy the orange, but is it too acidic for them?

Can anyone give me any further feeding advice? :roll:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura,

The Insectivorous/Fruit mixture, Waxworms & the variety of Fruit you are feeding is great, as long as the Zosterops are eating Fresh Fruit there is no problem with feeding Tinned Fruit as well, plus as you may know the Birds love the Nectar from the Tinned Fruit!!

Although most birds don't know it themselves, sweet Apple is one of the best Fruits regarding nutrition they can eat, even if they seem reluctant to eat it, please persevere.
Although not all that nutritious, sweet Grapes are a favourite with Softbilled & some Hardbilled Birds, some of my Finches & Seedeaters enjoy eating Grapes that I hang in bunches of three or four on the aviary mesh, although Oranges are very acidic your Zosterops will come to no harm eating them.
Any Seasonal Wild Fruit or Berries may be worth Harvesting & freezing for Annual use, such as Blackberry, Elderberry, Hawthorn Berries & Rowan Berries etc.

Have you tried Sponge or Madeira Cake with your Zosterops?
If you find they do not take to it dry, try moistening some with a small amount the Nectar, just enough to soften it without creating a soggy mush.
If they seem reluctant to tuck into the Mealworms, try them with freshly moulted white Mealworms & even Mealworm Chrysalis & white Pinkie Maggots, Spiders, Woodlice, Earwigs, Whiteworm, Stick Insects (I know of at least two breeders of these in Dorset :lol: ), Brown/Silent Crickets & Wood Ants Eggs etc.

In Winter especialy you could try them with Fat Balls, the ones you would feed to Wild Birds (unless the Zosterops are Wintered in Cages!), grated Cheese can be another favourite with Softbills as well as certain Hardbills, I had a pair of Cuban Finches that loved to eat grated Cheese.
Eggfood the same as you would feed your Finches etc, may be taken by the Zosterops.

Paul. :wink:

[laurab]

Thanks for that Paul, its a great help as I wish to give them a varied diet.

Last week I bought them a punnet of raspberries they seemed to like them.

I will try with the apple, maybe if I add honey they might be encouraged to eat it......I will let you know.

Stick insects, now there's a good idea :roll: The next time I find one of my daughters escaped insect in the shower with me I know where it will end up!!!

[laurab]

Hi Paul just a quick up-date - I gave my Zosterops some apple with a little honey stirred in with it. The apple was gone in no time with very little waste! :D

[PAUL HEARN]

Good one Laura,

So they benefit from the Apple & the Honey. :D

Paul.