Robins will keep flocking to your garden every day if you avoid simple mistake in October

Autumn is a difficult time for robins as their foods sources are quickly becoming scarce and now they desperately need to build up fat to survive the upcoming freezing cold weather. Gardeners who feed these struggling birds are being incredibly kind, but many make the mistake of tossing out any old kitchen scraps, which can do more harm than good.

Jaymi Heimbuch, an expert from Better with Birds, has warned a big mistake many bird enthusiasts make is feeding robins bread, as it actually harms or even kills them once winter arrives. He said: "It's basically junk food for birds-fills them up with no nutritional value."

Why should you never feed robins bread?

Bread is just empty calories for robins, and will not provide them with the proteins or fats they need to stay healthy as the temperature drops.

It will fill them up so they no longer feel hungry, but this will stop them from foraging for foods that actually give them energy, like insects and berries.

Robins need to build up fat reserves to stay warm in winter, and if they do not get the nutrients they need, they are very likely to freeze to death.

Malnourished robins will also be slower, have weaker immune systems, and are less able to escape from predators, so feeding them bread can unintentionally cause them serious harm.

What other foods are harmful to robins?

Many people leave out a saucer of milk for robins, but birds cannot digest dairy, and drinking it can make them seriously ill.

Robins enjoy nuts, but peanuts contain high levels of salt that can poison or dangerously dehydrate them.

They also cannot eat citrus fruits because the acidity is harmful, and avocados contain persin, a substance that is highly toxic to birds.

It might seem like there is a long list of foods to avoid, but keeping robins healthy and happy is very simple as long as to stay away from bread, salt, dairy, oranges and avocados.

What to feed robins to help them survive in the cold?

Robins absolutely adore mealworms, which are packed with the protein they need to stay warm during the winter months.

Mealworms are the best way to attract robins to your garden, but they will also love soft fruits that provide natural sugars and vitamins to boost their immune system.

The expert said: "Serve up apple slices, raisins, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cherries."

It is important to chop and deseed any fruit before leaving it out, as robins have delicate beaks and need softer food to eat easily.

Suet balls and sunflower hearts are also excellent choices, rich in the fats robins require to build up their energy reserves.

Taking the time to learn how to feed robins correctly will keep your local bird population healthy this autumn so you can enjoy watching them flock to your garden.