Only sparrows eating mealworms
I have a small cup feeder that I fill with live mealworms. I’m in Brooklyn, but get a decent amount of birds coming through. Mostly mourning doves, house sparrows and finches and cardinals. I have seen downies and flickers, chickadees and goldfinch come through. I have a mostly native (and vegetable) garden with some trees towards the back.
Unfortunately I have a couple of resident strays that live in and around my garden. I had them neutered, and I do care for them. They don’t normally sit right by the feeders. I’m afraid this will be rage bait and I really don’t want to focus on them.
My question is, how can I make the mealworms more enticing for birds besides just the house sparrows? Is there a better style feeder? Is it that in the current location the plants grow up too close to it and they don’t feel safe? I have a decent sized garden, so have other options for locations. I raise mealworms for the birds, but feel like only the sparrows are benefiting.
Thanks!