If you want robins to keep coming back to your garden then make sure to leave out these three handy ingredients that robins love – even better, they’re not hard to find
It’s always a delight when you spot a robin in your garden – so if you want them around there are three food items you should leave out.
It’s easy to see why robins are considered one of Britain’s favourite birds. With their compact feathery bodies and bright eyes, they carry with them associations with good fortune. There is even a long-held belief that they host the souls of lost loved ones, and many find their presence to be a special and heart warming symbol.
Unfortunately, they can be picky eaters. If you notice that they only make fleeting stops in your garden, the problem may lie with your food.
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While many other bird species love nibbling on seeds, they don’t quite whet the robin’s appetite. Instead, they prefer insects like grubworms, earthworms and snails.
Equally, they’re massive fans of fruit. In particular, gardening experts recommend leaving out three fruits to entice them to stay over.
All you have to do is place them in a feeder. Country Living writes: “You can also offer fresh fruit on a flat platform feeder – think apple slices, grapes, or strawberries.”
They also recommend planting fruit-producing trees and bushes, which will keep robins fed over summer. They add that raspberry, blackberry and strawberry bushes are good options.
Equally, with the summer heat, it’s important the robins have plenty of options to hydrate themselves. You can do this by leaving water in a shallow bird bath.
This is especially true in hot weather, as birds can’t produce sweat, which means it can be difficult for them to regulate their own temperature. Instead, they resort to cooling methods like panting.
If birds become too warm, it can result in heat stress, which can cause disorientation. In extreme cases, it can be deadly.
For this reason, you should be careful to leave food in shaded spots so that birds don’t risk becoming too warm. This can be near a bush or under trees or eaves.
Equally, you can also try opting for bird feeders with roofs. This is because they also have a cooling effect on birds, alongside the added benefit of keeping bird food protected from the elements.
Also, be careful not to leave food out for too long in hot, humid weather is it may become mouldy. You should also regularly clean out your bird feeder.
