There are few birds more delightful than the little robin redbreast – so if you want them to keep coming back to your garden, there is one item you should make sure to buy. Even better, it should be easy to find.
Robins are considered Britain’s favourite bird, according to the RSPB. It’s not hard to see why. With their tiny bodies and intelligent eyes, they carry with them associations with good luck and fortune. There is even an old belief that they host the souls of lost loved ones, and many find their presence to be a special and heart warming symbol.
But robins can be picky about where they like to settle in your garden. If you notice that they only make fleeting stops in your garden, the problem may lie with your bird box.
If you own a bird box that is the wrong shape or size, they may choose to perch elsewhere. Instead, garden experts have recommended that if you want these wise little birds to stay, you need to purchase an open-fronted bird box.
Open-fronted bird boxes differ from regular ones in that the front is completely exposed. This means that birds don’t have to stick their beak through a tiny hole to access food.
James Ewens, a gardening expert at Green Feathers, told Ideal Homes: “Robins won’t go near the classic bird boxes with the tiny round holes, they are great for smaller birds like blue tits. What you need is an open-fronted bird box, with a wide entrance, and a clear view.”
He explained that robins like to keep an eye on their surroundings. Because of this they “tend to nest lower to the ground.”
He also recommended that the bird box should ideally be made from natural wood. This is because it mimics habitats they would settle in the wild, like log piles or tree hollows.
Of course, owning the right kind of bird box is just half the battle. It’s equally as important that it is placed in an optimal location for returning robins.
Robins like to nest in north-east facing boxes, so make sure it is positioned correctly. They are also introverted, territorial creatures, so make sure the box is tucked away in vegetation and in a quieter part of your garden.
It’s also crucial that the bird box is positioned a certain distance above ground – at least 1.5 metres. This helps protect them from natural predators like cats, foxes and even rodents.
To make the box as homely as possible, it’s a good idea to keep it well-insulated. For this, you can use wood shavings, grass and even hay.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.