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Robins are Britain’s most prized bird and seeing one in your garden is always a wonderful moment
Robins are Britain’s most popular bird, and catching a glimpse of one in your garden is always a truly special moment. Fortunately, there are certain fruits that they particularly enjoy that you can leave behind to tempt these red-breasted beauties into your outdoor space again and again.
Unlike many other species, robins do not migrate south during the winter months, meaning they have to brave the harsh British climate. With suitable, protected habitats for birds in short supply across the UK in winter, it is up to us to protect and care for these much-loved little creatures.
Providing the robins with specific fruits that they like is one of the best things you can do, because it enriches their diet and supplements what they manage to feed from the ground. This ensures that Britain’s unofficial national bird gets the nutrition it needs, while enjoying the fruit that really appeals to it.
As the fall chill sets in and winter approaches, it is essential for robins and other birds to prepare for the bitter weather by making sure they have plenty of food to see them through the harsh months.
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One food these birds particularly like is fruit, and there are several specific varieties you can pick out to attract Britain’s most admired bird. The RSPB recommends putting bruised or overripe fruit such as apples and pears outside for garden birds.
Bird feeding specialists Birdify echo this advice, suggesting that soft fruit including apple slices, blueberries, strawberries, or dried raisins be left out to attract robins to your garden. They also emphasize that autumn and winter are the optimal times of the year to set these fruits for the birds.
Ark Wildlife sheds light on why feeding robins is so uncomplicated: “They are omnivores so they eat a wide range of foods, which gives you a lot of options when it comes to feeding them. Robins can lose up to 10% of their body weight just warm on a single winter night, so making sure that its fat reserves are sufficiently replenished can really save a robin’s life.
When it comes to naturally growing fruit found outdoors, there are many varieties that robins are particularly attracted to that you can grow in your garden to encourage these birds to visit regularly.
The bird food specialists reveal: “Robins enjoy eating various small fruits that they find on garden trees and bushes. Berries such as sloe, hawthorn and holly are particular favorites of robins – along with other tree fruits, including cherries and grapes from vines.”
Leaving food for robins is remarkably easy, as they are not particularly fussy eaters. You can place the food directly on the ground, a flat tray or small dish, or on a low bird table positioned near shrubs or trees.
This allows the robins to flee quickly if they detect a danger, making the food offering much more attractive by ensuring their safety. Ground-level bird feeders and height-adjustable feeders are particularly effective, robins with easy access, as long as they are placed at a safe distance from cats and other predators.
RSPB guidance warns against giving robins salted food, cooked food, loose peanuts, dry or hard food and bread. Milk is strictly off-limits according to the Woodland Trust, as it can lead to serious illness.
In fact, milk should be avoided when feeding all bird species.
If you supply unsalted peanuts, make sure they are aflatoxin-free and sourced from a reputable supplier, as poor-quality peanuts can contain the aflatoxin fungus, which is deadly to birds if ingested.
Current RSPB guidance advises: “Between the beginning of May and the end of October, stop filling your bird feeders with seeds and peanuts.
The RSPB also recommends cleaning and moving bird feeders on a weekly basis, and changing the water in birdbaths daily, to prevent the rapid spread of disease.
