Robins will thrive in gardens this autumn if two types of food are left out for them.
The tiny red-breasted birds are active in the UK all year round but will often be spotted in the colder months gathering materials to build nests and searching for food. Robins don’t migrate from the UK in the winter so gardeners are urged to leave food and water out for them on a regular basis as their usual sources of food can be harder to come by. The birds typically feed on a diet of live insects, worms and fruit, but when the weather turns colder in autumn and winter this supply of food can dry up a bit, with fruit trees becoming bare and the ground becoming hard or even frozen.
To help the small birds out, wildlife experts recommend leaving extra food out for them in gardens as this will help them to build up their fat stores for both energy and warmth. Robins need high energy foods to help them thrive at this time of the year so experts advise offering a combination of sunflower seeds and mealworms.
Experts at The Woodland Trust said: “Robins are natural ground feeders, so feeding trays are ideal. Make a mixture of bird seed, sunflower hearts and mealworms, sprinkle it out on a tray and wait for the robins to arrive.
“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.”
Bird food specialists at Beaky Bites add: “Sunflower seeds are loved by many birds, including tits and greenfinches, for their high energy content.
“These seeds provide the energy birds need to go about their daily activities especially during colder months when their energy needs are higher. But one downside of feeding black sunflower seeds is they can create a pile of husks below the feeder that may need to be cleaned regularly.
“Including high energy seeds like sunflower seeds in your bird feeders gives your feathered friends the energy they need to thrive. This is especially important during breeding season and winter when their energy needs peak.”
While feeding birds in autumn and winter is recommended, gardeners should be mindful not to overfeed birds as an excess of food can attract other wildlife, such as rats, squirrels and pigeons, which can make it harder for smaller birds, like robins, to get to the food.
Food should also be removed from bird tables if it gets wet as damp food is susceptible to mould and bacteria which can cause birds to fall ill. Using a covered bird table is the safest option as it keeps food dry and small birds are better protected from predators.
