How to help Moray's Robins survive the winter
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Moray's population of Robins can use up to 10% of their body weight to keep warm on a single winter night.
So a cold spell can prove fatal unless they can replenish their reserves every day.
British Trust for Ornithology research has shown that small birds must spend over 85% of daylight hours foraging for food to consume enough calories to survive the long night.
Robins remain faithful to their gardens no matter what the weather, so without supplementary bird feeding up to a half could die of cold and starvation.
Here are some tips on how to help them.
1. Food
Robins prefer to forage and feed off the ground.
Place a small tray full of their favourite food close to a shrub tree or preferred perch. If you’re lucky, Robins can quickly become confident and feeding from the hand is not unknown!
The best foods for Robins are fatty, such as:
- Dried fruit
- Mealworms and calci worms (these are especially beneficial because robins are insectivores)
- Special high-protein Robin blends
- Peanuts (shredded or crushed)
- Meaty kitchen scraps
- Mild cheese
- Cake and biscuit crumbs
.
2. Shelter
During icy spells, birds cluster together to share their warmth, so putting up a nest box can make a huge difference.
Place them at least 6ft from dense vegetation in order to prevent attacks from predators.
.
3. Water
Bird baths make a big difference to the survival rate of Robins in suburban areas. Prevent the water from freezing by placing a ping pong ball in it.
.
4. Rewilding
It’s worth ensuring your garden isn’t too pristine or tidy. Some wild undergrowth will encourage insects, thereby helping Robins, and other birds, to find food this winter.
