As winter approaches, the small red-breasted birds need our helpThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Gardeners are being told to take swift action if they spot a robin
Although we are still officially in autumn, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s actually winter thanks to the recent drop in temperatures. Winter officially starts next month but gardeners are being asked to take action now to help one of the nation’s favourite birds.
In the colder months with more frequent frosts, our wildlife can struggle to access food thanks to frozen grounds. Food sources wane as worms and insects retreat underground and that means that smaller species, such as robins, can fail to thrive and struggle to find sufficient food.
The cheery little birds are favourites in the UK. Some people believe the red-breasted birds represent a connection with lost loved ones too and the saying ‘loved ones appear when robins are near’ is another reason they are a welcome sight
And, despite being present in gardens year round, are more visible in the winter as they scout for food.
To give them a helping hand and to ensure they are well-fed, experts at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) have asked gardeners to put out some additional food sources if they spot a robin.
And they said that putting out some high-fat food can help them to survive and thrive this winter.
The RHS said: “Help birds in winter by placing fat blocks in wire cages. Balls in plastic nets are not recommended as birds such as woodpeckers can get their tongues caught.”
Amazon sell this Selections Hanging Suet Cake Block Bird Feeder in a pack of two for £11.98 which is suitable for use with bird feeding stations. It can also be hung on tree branches.
The Selections Hanging Suet Cake Block Bird Feeder is perfect for holding the grub robins need this winter(Image: Amazon)
If you want to dot more feeders around the garden, the Fat Ball Feeder Hanging which comes in a pack of four and holds a suet ball with ease. It’s priced at £8.99 from Amazon and is made from made of high-quality iron steel wire with black plating.
While you can buy suet balls from shops, they can be made at home by melting suet into moulds such as coconut shells or logs with holes drilled in.
The RHS continued: “Garden birds, in particular, benefit from feeding year-round, but winter is a time to provide foodstuffs with a high-fat content to help keep them warm. Feed regularly so that birds will not waste vital energy visiting your garden when there is no food,” reports the Mirror.
While you may wanto to stock up on high-fat food in time for winter, there is one piece of fruit that can be put out in November to entice robins to your garden.
Kingsyard Official, a firm that manufactures bird feeders, says putting one basic fruit into your feeder this winter robins will be encouraged to gather in your garden. And it’s something that many of us will already have in our fruit bowls.
Apple slices are a favourite fare of the robin. They said: “Try adding apple slices, raisins, suet, mealworms or peanut hearts to draw them in. As winter approaches, robins will be looking for fresh water. Consider setting up a heated bird bath to welcome these beautiful birds during the colder months”.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds notes that a robin’s diet typically consists of “Worms, seeds, fruits, insects and other invertebrates.”
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