Wildlife experts have urged people to do one small task in the garden to help robins find food when the ground freezes
Wildlife experts encouraged one small task in the garden to help robins find food when the ground freezes(Image: Brais Seara via Getty Images)
Robins are always seen as welcome guests in gardens, but if they’ve been absent from yours recently, there’s a simple task you can undertake to entice them back. Wildlife experts have encouraged gardeners to carry out a minor job in their gardens to assist our fine feathered friends, reports the Express.
Wildlife specialists recently advised Ideal Home that gardeners should be digging up small patches in the garden to aid robins. The rationale behind digging up soil and clearing patches in the garden is because robins prefer to feed on the garden floor, rather than from bird feeders.
The birds typically find their food sources in insects, worms, seeds and berries that can be found on the ground.
However, during the winter and colder months, it can be challenging for robins to find food when the ground has frozen over. Wildlife experts recommend turning over the ground and soil around the garden to help the birds in need.
Dig up small patches of soil to help the robins find food(Image: Getty)
Fay Brotherhood, an ecologist at Arbtech, informed Ideal Home: “It can be challenging for robins to source suitable food in winter, particularly during a cold snap when the ground has frozen over, and fewer insects are available. But digging a small patch of soil in your garden each morning is one of the small acts gardeners can do to help.
“It’s an easy task that exposes hidden insects and gives robins access to the food sources they vitally need.”
There’s no need to dig up your entire garden, so don’t worry. Simply use a garden fork to expose soil in small patches or a single patch.
This will make it easier for robins and other ground-feeding birds to forage for their food.
If you’re planning to put out food for the robins to nibble on, there are a few things you need to bear in mind. Wildlife experts at Beaky Bites recommend using peanuts, along with sunflower hearts or seeds, as they are rich in fats.
These are high calorie food sources, which is precisely what robins will be needing when feasting in gardens. However, it’s crucial to remember that robins can’t consume salted food.
Their bodies can’t process salt, leading to dehydration, kidney failure or even death. The specialists explained that birds should only be fed natural and unprocessed food due to their sensitive digestive systems, so make sure you only put out raw peanuts and seeds for robins.
The experts said: “Peanuts and sunflower hearts are healthy options robins love. These foods provide the proteins and fats they need. Sunflower hearts are particularly nutritious and are a robin favourite during breeding season.
“You can offer peanuts and sunflower hearts by scattering them on the ground or in platform feeders. These foods are not only healthy but also very attractive to robins so add them to your feeders to increase interaction from robins.”
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