Robins face a serious threat from freezing temperatures this winter, despite their populations growing by 45 percent since the 1970s. During chilly nights, robins can shed up to 10 percent of their body weight simply to maintain warmth. If they are unable to restore these fat reserves quickly, it can prove fatal.
Feeding Robins: Essential Foods
Scraps left on bird tables provide a lifeline in the colder months, and robins will also snap up any scraps that tumble to the ground from hanging fat balls. Britain's favourite gardener, Monty Don, has essential advice for gardeners when it comes to caring for robins. In his blog, he says: "I buy dried mealworms too which robins, tits and wrens gobble up greedily. If in doubt sunflower seeds and fat-balls - preferably hanging so tits can land on them without being bullied away by more aggressive birds - are invariably popular."
Robins are not the only birds Monty urges UK gardeners to keep an eye out for as temperatures begin to drop. He said: "As the weather changes the birds greedily feed off any seeds and berries in the garden but they soon get taken so supplementing this natural supply both helps them and provides a fascinating chance to share and observe their world."
Calorie-Rich Options and Foods to Avoid
Monty recommends that the food be as calorific as possible, with seeds, nuts and fat being the best. Left-over pastry, bread and rice always get eaten fast, and fruit is good, especially for blackbirds and thrushes. Grated cheese is popular, as are cooked (but not raw) potatoes. He advises avoiding anything salty such as crisps, salted peanuts or bacon.
To prevent food from being gobbled up by pigeons and starlings, Monty suggests finding an old log with lots of cracks and crevices and pouring seed over it. The smaller birds will extract every last bit from the fissures that bigger ones cannot reach.
Consistency and Water Supply
Monty cautions that once people begin feeding their local bird visitors, it is essential they commit to doing so on a consistent and regular basis. He said: "The birds use up precious energy in coming to your bird table which is then wasted if it is bare. Also always be sure that there is a fresh supply of water for them to drink, especially in freezing weather."
