Experts have explained the best ways to encourage robins to visit your garden and how to help the birds survive the coming months
Some useful advice has been issued to help protect robins(Image: Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane)
Householders are being urged to carry out one simple task to help bring robins to their gardens before August ends. Experts say that taking the time to leave out food for these vulnerable birds will greatly improve their chances of surviving.
But it is important to have a bird feeder in the right place in the garden to really help them out. James Martin, an expert from Woodland Trust, says that encouraging robins into your garden is very easy, as long as you place the bird feeder far away from any plants.
He said: “Robins, and other birds, are more likely to spend time in your garden if they feel safe from predators like cats. Ideally, bird feeders should be positioned around two meters away from dense vegetation. This will reduce the chance of a surprise attack by cats, and means birds can still easily retreat to cover if needed.” The advice comes as garden enthusiasts are also being encouraged to leave out one essential item for robins and blackbirds, as reported by ChronicleLive.
Issuing their latest advice, experts have explained that bushes, trees and even flowerbeds are the perfect hiding spots for cats, and most birds will not feel safe if a bird feeder is too low on the ground or near any foliage. Having a bird feeder next to any plants will stress birds out and they are less likely to come back into your garden, but it can also really harm your garden.
Placing a bird feeder near your flowerbeds or crops means they will be a target for bird droppings, which increases the risk of bacteria, disease or other germs infecting plants, reports The Express. Try to keep your bird feeder somewhere shady in your garden to keep birds cool, but try to keep it far from plants and even fences and sheds so cats cannot climb up to it.
Also make sure your bird feeder is somewhere you can see it from your home so you know when to fill it up and can easily watch robins enjoying a feast. Once you have found the safest spot in your garden for a bird feeder make sure to fill it up with fat balls as they are a big energy source which can help robins regain their strength if they have not been able to find much food.
Robins will also eat fruits, sunflower seeds, crushed peanuts but they really love mealworms so will flock to your garden if you buy them. If robins can get a good source of food now they are more likely to stay healthy and survive once the colder weather arrives so taking the time to help them out now will guarantee your garden becomes a popular hotspot for them.
Meanwhile, bird experts at Peckish, a retailer specialising in bird food and accessories, suggest one immediate action you can take to help. They advise: “Water is the most valuable commodity for birds in summer.
“Be sure to leave shallow trays of water out for birds, particularly during dry spells. Even better are ponds, which won’t need to be topped up as often, and will also provide insects for birds to eat.”
They also provide tips on how to make your water source (such as a bird bath) as safe as possible for birds, recommending:
Position it two metres from cover like trees or shrubs so that it is both visible and provides a safe place to retreatEnsure garden birds have plenty of fresh clean water for drinking and bathingEnsure to regularly clean feeding and drinking areas with a mild disinfectant.
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