Articles by Katie-Ann Gupwell,Sophie McCoid

Technology

Robins will flock to your garden if you put out one fruit

Many of us love seeing robins in our gardens, and there's actually a simple trick you can use to make sure they keep coming back to your outdoor space. They're common at this time of year and, with most of us associating them with Christmas, it's lovely to see them popping by throughout November and December. According to Kingsyard Official, a company that makes bird feeders , adding one simple fruit to your feeder can help attract them to your garden this winter. What's even better is that you likely already have this everyday fruit at home, making it really easy to do. After all, it's important to look after wildlife and support them as much as we can. This is exactly why you should do your part to help robins this winter, and leaving certain items outside can make a difference. However, if you want to attract them, there's a simple approach you can take. Kingsyard Official shared on Instagram: "How to attract robins to your feeders? American robins aren't typical feeder visitors, but they love open ground and platform feeders. "Try adding apple slices, raisins, suet, mealworms or peanut hearts to draw them in. As winter approaches, robins will be looking for fresh water.", reports the Mirror . "Consider setting up a heated bird bath to welcome these beautiful birds during the colder months". Robins become much more visible throughout the winter months as natural food sources dwindle, making them more likely to appear in gardens and at bird tables whilst foraging for food. The lack of dense foliage on trees and bushes also makes these small creatures easier to spot. Interestingly, some robins from mainland Europe actually migrate to the UK for the winter, increasing local populations. As autumn sets in, their natural food supplies start to decrease and they begin establishing winter territories. This explains why they're already starting to reappear and you might even hear their distinctive "autumn song". What many people may not know is that these charming birds became associated with Christmas due to Victorian-era postmen. In those days, postmen wore bright red uniforms and earned the nickname "robins". From then on, these delightful creatures have been linked to the festive season. Today, numerous people look forward to spotting them in their gardens throughout the winter months. Many might not be aware that robins have a particular fondness for apples, especially during the autumn and winter months when their diet shifts from insects to fruits and berries. To attract them, you can offer small, fresh apple slices or place them on a bird platform feeder. Robins naturally gravitate towards berries and fruits from trees and shrubs, which explains their attraction to fruit. As the temperature falls and insects become less abundant, fruit becomes a crucial part of their diet. The key is to ensure the fruit remains in prime condition and doesn't develop mould. If it does, discard it and replace it with fresh fruit. Some experts advise against offering them high-sugar fruits like grapes. However, if you're short on apples, there are other alternatives you can provide. Dried fruits such as raisins could also be left out for them. They're also partial to pears and peanuts, provided they're chopped up small. There are a few odds and ends you can leave out for them to help the birds through the winter.