Gardeners urged to avoid putting out one popular food for robins this July
Robins are one of the most beloved birds in British gardens and they need all the help they can get to survive the hot weather in July but gardeners can only do a lot of harm if they leave out the wrong bird food.
Robins are among the most beloved birds you can spot in British gardens and, come July, they need all the help they can get to cope with the sweltering heat. You may not notice robins in your garden as often during the summer months, but chances are they're close by, spending much of their time guarding their nests and tending to their chicks.
They still need to forage more frequently to feed their young, but as temperatures soar, finding insects becomes increasingly difficult. The parched soil forces their primary food source, earthworms, to burrow deeper underground in search of moisture.
Helping to feed robins is one of the most thoughtful ways gardeners can support local wildlife at this time of year, though choosing the wrong foods can sometimes do more harm than good.
Danielle from Really Wild Bird Food explains that while fat balls are among the most widely available bird foods in supermarkets, she urges caution when putting them out during warmer spells.
She said: "While fat balls can definitely be enjoyed by wild birds all year round, it's important to be vigilant when putting out fat balls in the summer months, especially if the weather is particularly hot."
Robins are particularly fond of suet balls, also known as fat balls, as they deliver a hefty energy boost to keep them active and on the hunt for food when supplies are scarce.
However, anyone feeding birds during summer should bear in mind that suet balls are crafted from soft animal fat, which melts rapidly and can leave surrounding surfaces greasy.
This can prove harmful to robins because sticky residue may coat their feathers, causing them to clump together and stop them from working properly.
Robins depend on their feathers to trap air and control their body temperature during warm weather, so any residue that gets onto their plumage could lead to heat stress.
Greasy feathers will leave robins uncomfortably hot and make it tougher for them to hunt for food, and during heatwaves, it could seriously dehydrate or even kill them.
If you want to help robins out in July, then it's far more beneficial to leave out dried mealworms, which you can pick up in pet shops or in the pet aisle of most supermarkets.
Mealworms are packed with protein, which will help sustain robins if they're struggling to dig out earthworms or locate any insects at the moment.
Simply soak dried-up mealworms in water before putting them outside, as it will make them easier for young robins to eat and also keep them hydrated.
Pop mealworms in a bird feeder, on a table, or even on the ground in a safe spot in your garden, and you'll soon catch the attention of nearby robins.
The RSPB recently changed its advice on feeding birds to say that between May 1 and October 31, we should stop feeding birds. It said: "We can help stop the spread of disease among garden birds by making two simple shifts to how we feed birds. Put simply: Feed seasonally. Feed safely."
