Worm Police

Yesterday I visited three stores dedicated to the feeding and housing of our feathered friends. At the first store, recently opened up by some friends but way far out of my way (I probably won't be visiting there much), I purchased a new thistle feeder since our old one was shot. This store, owned by two nice women, made a commitment to stock with only things made in America. While there, I asked about mealworms. Did you know that there was a nationwide shortage of mealworms now? One woman said, there is only one place in town that carries them, and named the store I generally get them from. And, she added, they will only sell to you if you have already bought mealworms from them. Well, I answered, no problem there because I am in that category. I went to the second store to get a particular brand of feed. If you think gas prices have gone up, you should see what bird feed prices have done. I paid $38 for 20 pounds of seed that 3-5 years ago i think i bought for $23. But you get different birds with the feed than you do with just the regular sunflower/millet and there is no waste and no hulls. Then I went to the third store and asked for my mealworms. The fellow asked, have you bought them here before? I thought, you doofus, YOU are the very person that sold them to me! (and they do have their regular customers, and he has made special orders for me, so I thought it reasonable that he remember me) Yes, I responded, and he pointed to a sign that they had posted by the register- Due to a nationwide shortage of mealworms, we will only be selling to our regular mealworm customers. What if I had lied? He apologized for the worms being smaller than usual, but hey, I figure the bluebirds won't care. I would hate to have to ask folks if they were my regular customers and then turn them down if they weren't.