Gardeners have been told to leave two types of food out this spring to help robins thrive.
Robins are often seen collecting materials for nest-building or hunting for food, especially during colder weather when their regular food sources become scarce.
The birds typically feast on live insects, worms and fruit, but these supplies can dwindle in winter when the ground hardens or freezes, and fruit trees and bushes are stripped bare.
Wildlife experts encourage gardeners to assist these small red-breasted birds by providing extra food for them. This is especially crucial at this time of year as it not only helps the birds stay warm, but also aids in building up their fat reserves for energy.
Being natural ground feeders, robins benefit from food left out on ground feeding trays or bird tables, providing an easily accessible spot for them to perch and eat.
Wildlife specialists stress the importance of offering robins high-energy foods during this season to help them flourish. They suggest a mix of seeds, such as sunflower hearts, and mealworms – a particular favourite of robins according to the Woodland Trust.
Bird food experts Beaky Bites explain: “A key aspect of high-quality bird seed is its high energy content. Black sunflower seeds, for instance, are a high-energy food that’s easily accessible to birds.
“Many garden bird watchers provide black sunflower seeds and sunflower hearts as staple foods because of their nutritional value. These seeds are great as they are consumed quickly and don’t leave husks behind, reducing mess around the feeders.
“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.”
Peanuts are another fantastic high-energy food source that robins relish, but gardeners are advised not to leave them out during the breeding season, which typically spans from March until August.
Peanuts should be completely avoided during this period as they can pose a choking hazard for young birds, so it’s safer to offer peanut granules which are smaller and easier to consume.
The RSPB has issued a warning to bird lovers, saying: “Never place out loose nuts, especially during the breeding season. Offer them either enclosed in a rigid mesh feeder from which birds are only able to extract small pieces, or finely chopped in a seed mix.”
They also warn against offering salted peanuts, explaining: “Salted peanuts should never be given to birds. Aflatoxin is a poison produced by a fungus, which can occur on peanuts in their country of origin.
“It is a powerful toxin, harmful to people and birds. Only buy nuts from a reputable dealer, who can guarantee that the nuts are free from aflatoxin.”
