With more hot weather forecast for the UK next week, gardeners are being urged to help wildlife cope with the heat. Birds, including robins, are particularly vulnerable as they have high body temperatures and cannot sweat, leading to dehydration and overheating in extended high temperatures.
Robins, being ground feeders, struggle when the sun bakes the ground, making it harder to find food. Providing fresh, clean, and cool water is one of the best ways to help birds cool down. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) recommends a shallow dish with sloping sides, a maximum depth of 10cm, and a width of at least 30cm.
Bird baths should be placed in a shady spot and cleaned daily, with a deep clean once a week to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Multiple baths at different heights can also benefit other wildlife, such as hedgehogs, which may use them to cope with hotter weather.
The RSPB notes that birds like wood pigeons, blackbirds, starlings, and robins enjoy paddling or splashing in water, which helps keep them cool and clean. Gardeners are encouraged to add water trays or bird baths to their gardens to support local wildlife during heatwaves.
