Robins are one of our charismatic winter birds. Easily recognisable, the friendly robin is a great asset in our winter gardens and has been hailed as the UK’s favourite bird. In the bleak midwinter, our garden friend the robin, shadows our every move in the garden. His tomato red breast shines like a beacon in the cold winter light as he hops and chirrups around as we potter around the winter garden. These pretty little birds are hugely territorial. In order to survive they need to protect and retain their patch, especially if there’s a garden rich in bird food or a friendly human providing some sustenance.
Garden buddy
These little garden friends watch as we work in the garden, especially when digging holes and moving soil, when wormy treats are often unearthed. Look out for a rustle in the hedge and a red breast hopping from branch to branch in the border. Their bright, beady eyes don’t miss a trick as they sit just out of arms reach on the fence or in the border. These are ground feeding birds that will clean up under the bird feeder and appreciate a tasty morsel thrown their way while you work outside.
Insect eating
Robins are insectivorous; remember that when you wield your garden pesticides. Every bug is a meal for something, and this obsession with killing ‘pests’ deprives insect eating creatures of a meal. It’s no wonder that the insectivores are struggling. But gardeners supplement the diet of our feathered friends and by doing so, invest in the vibrant entertainment that these wild pets bring to our plots. Richard’s range of high-energy bird food is a great place to start.
Opportunists
Robins are the ground feeders; they are the garden bug busters and forage in the borders and around the garden, rustling in the leaves looking for tasty morsels to maintain their body weight. All small birds like robins need a daily supply of food to survive the cold nights and will be out bright and early at sunrise searching for a meal. But the cheeky robin is a successful opportunist and can become tame, even learning to trust enough to feed from your hand. Soak dried mealworms in water and offer them up to these little characters and in time they may, just may, be brave enough to feed from your hand. Invest in a pack of the Premium High Energy Bird Food from Richard Jackson, it’s rich in seeds, mealworms and suet, all energy rich ingredients for all our feathered garden friends, that will help support them through the winter. For a robin treat, present them with soft suet, special insect rich robin mixes and rich fruit crumbles on a ground feeder and enjoy their company as you garden, they bring life and movement to the silent winter garden and are a bright light in the depths of winter.
