Robins can find it tough to feed as their food sources begin to dry up in autumn, but gardeners can easily help support these struggling birds during the colder months
Robins face a challenging time feeding themselves as autumn arrives and their natural food sources start to disappear, but gardeners can easily lend a helping hand to these beloved birds during the chillier months.
Come September, robins must begin accumulating fat reserves to endure winter whilst simultaneously moulting their worn feathers – a demanding process requiring additional energy and nutrition.
With berries and insects becoming increasingly rare after summer’s end, robins unable to gain sufficient weight face greater vulnerability to brutal winter conditions and reduced survival chances. Fortunately, wildlife specialists at Beaky Bites have shared that it’s straightforward to discover suitable garden food for robins, as these feathered friends are absolutely mad about peanuts.
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One expert explained: “Peanuts and sunflower hearts are healthy options Robins love. These foods provide the proteins and fats they need. Sunflower hearts are particularly nutritious and are a Robin favourite during breeding season.
“You can offer peanuts and sunflower hearts by scattering them on the ground or in platform feeders. These foods are not only healthy but also very attractive to robins so add them to your feeders to increase interaction from robins.”
Both peanuts and sunflower hearts or seeds contain abundant fat content and deliver an excellent source of numerous calories precisely when robins require increased consumption, reports the Express.
These nutritious offerings supply robins with essential energy and protein needed for developing fresh plumage, which helps maintain warmth and shields them from freezing temperatures once bitter weather sets in. However, it’s crucial to note that robins must never be given salted or roasted peanuts, as they’re unable to process salt which can result in dehydration, kidney failure or even death.
Birds should only ever be offered natural and unprocessed food because of their fragile digestive systems, so ensure you only provide robins with raw peanuts. After securing your bird-safe peanuts, you’ll also need to chop them up or crush them into tiny pieces. Robins possess soft beaks and struggle to crack open nuts easily, whilst whole peanuts can also pose a choking risk for smaller birds.
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Simply sprinkle the peanut fragments on a low surface in your garden such as a tray or table, and robins will return repeatedly so you’ll spot plenty of these gorgeous birds this autumn.
The expert explained: “Robins prefer ground feeding, which means they will feed from trays placed on the ground or directly off the ground itself amongst the grass. This is how they naturally feed and makes them feel more comfortable and safe.”
Robins are also fond of dried mealworms if you wish to purchase them food, as these insects are bursting with nutrients and proteins they naturally consume in the wild.
You can also offer robins suet pellets or balls, which are made of animal fat and ideal for helping robins build up their fat reserves and maintain their energy to survive the approaching cold weather.