In the winter months, natural food sources for wildlife dwindle and birds can struggle to find enough nutrients to survive. If you want to help out birds and other animals, it’s a great idea to lay out some food for them.
However, knowing what to give them can be tricky. By doing research into what they like, you can ensure that not only are you keeping them healthy but making your garden a popular spot for them. If you put the right food out, birds will keep returning and bringing a little life to your garden in winter.
According to the Woodland Trust, robins love to eat insects and worms, which is why you might see them foraging in the garden. However, in winter, these are harder to come by, so it’s a good idea to provide some.
The Trust says robins “particularly enjoy” mealworms – either fresh or dried, so these are a great thing to provide. If you choose to use dried mealworms, you can soak them in water to give birds a source of fresh water as well.
If you don’t give them mealworms, they also love nuts, seeds and suet. Fresh fruit or vegetables and sunflower hearts are also a good idea.
The Trust advises against giving them bread, as although it does fill them up, it doesn’t provide any of the nutrients they need to stay strong through the winter.
Just make sure that any food you lay out remains fresh. If there are leftovers at the end of the day, make sure you take them away so birds don’t eat them and potentially get sick.
To attract robins, it’s a good idea to use a bird table or ground feeder, as they are less likely to use a hanging feeder. Just make sure it’s in a sheltered place so that the food doesn’t get wet. If food does get wet, it can quickly mould, and this can make robins sick.
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