Attract robins to your garden with three simple changes they will love
These simple changes can attract robins to your garden this year (Image: Getty)
Back in 2015, the robin topped a nationwide poll asking Brits to vote for their favourite bird they’d like to see elevated to ‘UK’s National Bird’ status.
The campaign was launched by ornithologist David Lindo and the red-breasted bird won by a landslide, securing 34% of the 224,000 votes cast. Now, it’s unofficially recognised as the UK’s National Bird.
It’s no surprise then, that people often hope to attract Britain’s favourite bird to their gardens and green spaces. So, what exactly can you do to be greeted by this adorable visitor in your homes?
According to experts, robins can be attracted to your gardens in three simple steps.
Provide a water source
Read more: Robins flock to your garden if you provide them with popular plant
Read more: 4 foods to never feed robins — you could end up killing them
Robins are widely regarded as Britain’s favourite bird (Image: Getty)
Not only is a water source, like a bird bath or fountain, a stunning feature to add to gardens, it’s also a big draw for birds.
It will add to the aesthetics of your green space and create a gorgeous focal point for your garden, along with providing birds water for drinking, bathing, and keeping their feathers in optimal condition.
A gently sloping, shallow bird bath is ideal for attracting robins to your garden and can dramatically increase visits. Those with the budget can spring for a chic and luxurious cast-iron or stone design that compliments your outdoor space’s overall palette and can survive years of wear and tear.
The ideal position for your garden water source would be somewhere close enough to cover and shade, yet clearly visible to our feathered friends.
It’s important to refresh the water in bird baths daily (and make sure they remain ice-free during winter months). Periodic cleaning is also recommended to maintain the overall hygiene and appeal of the water source.
Sowing plants they love will attract them to gardens regularly (Image: Getty)
Sow plants that robins love
The easiest way to entice robins into visiting your garden? Plant the things they love, ensuring they keep coming back time and again.
Honeysuckle is a firm favourite of these red-breasted avians, as is dogwood because of its nectar-rich characteristics. The cherry on top? These colourful plants look extraordinary in gardens.
Other berry-rich plants that are certified robin favourites include serviceberry (Amelanchier), holly, rowan, hawthorn, and cotoneaster. Sunflowers also attract robins due to their delicious seeds.
Make them feel safe
Robins, and for that matter any bird, are most likely to frequent your garden and spend time in it if it makes them feel safe, especially from predators like cats.
Creating a safe haven for these feathered creatures is another surefire way to attract them to your outdoor spaces time and again.
To create a safe space for robins or other birds, ensure that bird feeders are positioned roughly 2 metres away from any dense vegetation.
This will drastically reduce the chances of a surprise attack by cats or any other predators hiding in the bushes, while also providing the birds with a space to easily retreat and take cover if necessary.
It’s important to make these birds feel safe in your garden (Image: Getty)
Place nest boxes in the quietest areas of your gardens, ensuring they are out of the reach of cats and garden predators, and face them between north and east directions, so that exposure to the strongest sunlight and wettest weather conditions is avoided.
Famous English gardener Sarah Raven has some advice. Speaking to The English Garden, the renowned gardener shares: “Never put them [nesting spaces] in full sun. If the boxes overheat when spring arrives and the weather warms up, then the chicks will suffer.
“And beware the great spotted woodpecker! It is one of the few British birds that is enjoying a surge in numbers and they are brutal nest-box raiders, often smashing their way in through the front door.”
Sarah advises putting a woodpecker-proof metal plate that protects the entrance hole to your nesting boxes, especially if woodpeckers are common to the area you live in.
It’s imperative to clean bird feeders regularly to prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria, and old nests should be removed every autumn. Remember to ensure the nest is empty before cleaning though.
By following these three simple steps, you can drastically increase the chances of attracting not just robins, but several other beloved bird species to your gardens this year.
