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Robins are a cheerful sight in any garden, singing late into the night and scouting for something to eat. But what is it they're looking for?
Robins feed on insects (especially beetles) and worms. You might notice one following you about as your dig up your garden hoping to nab a few worms as you unearth them.
Robins can also eat fruit, seeds, suet, crushed peanuts, sunflower hearts and raisins. They particularly enjoy mealworms.
Putting food out and waiting to see which birds stop by for their tea is always a treat, but not all birds eat the same foods or the same way. Here’s how to make sure you’re visited by little Robin Redbreast.
The latest RSPB guidance is to feed birds seasonally and safely to avoid the spread of disease. You can do this by cleaning and moving feeders weekly, changing the water in water baths daily and avoiding the use of flat-surfaced feeders such as bird tables. It’s also recommended you pause the provision of seeds and peanuts between 1 May and 31 October.
Make a mixture of bird seed, sunflower hearts and mealworms, place it outside and wait for the robins to arrive. You could also have a go at making your own bird cake or food bars using melted suet or lard. Just pour it into a mixture of seed, raisins and nuts, let it cool and place it outside.
As they’re such fans of mealworms, you can give them an extra helping hand by soaking dried mealworms in water, giving the robins some valuable moisture from the food.
Make sure you remove any remnant food, especially if it gets wet. Damp food is susceptible to mould and bacteria which can make birds ill.
Lots of garden birds, such as blue tits, house sparrows and goldfinches, will happily grab a bite to eat from bird feeders. Hang them up, fill them with nuts and seeds, and watch the birds flock to your garden.
That said, robins are not likely to visit a hanging feeder unless there is a platform next to it.
Don’t forget to provide fresh water for birds to drink and bathe in, replacing it daily to keep it fresh. And remember – no matter which birds you’re feeding, never put out milk as it can make them really ill.
It’s always best to avoid leaving bread out for birds. While it fills them up, it doesn’t provide the right sort of nutrients or energy they need each day. This is especially bad in winter when birds need lots of good quality food to boost their energy reserves and help them keep warm.
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