Overview
- The RSPB urges regular feeding through autumn and winter, with twice‑daily top‑ups in severe weather to supply high‑fat, high‑energy food.
- To draw in robins, experts recommend small apple slices, raisins, suet, mealworms or peanut hearts offered on ground trays or low platforms.
- Provide reliable water by refreshing bird baths or using heated baths so birds can drink and bathe when ice forms.
- Keep feeders and baths clean and clear away uneaten or mouldy food to reduce disease transmission, BTO guidance says.
- Avoid salty foods and bread; long‑term RSPB data show sharp house sparrow declines, underscoring the value of careful winter support.