Attracting Robins to Your Yard

Like the bluebird, the American robin is in the thrush family. The robin comes to our yards during the warmer months to build a nest and raise young. Often thirsty, it makes frequent use of bird baths for drinking and bathing.

Robins are not seed-eating birds. They feed on earthworms, their favorite food. They will eat from a bird table or at feeders with trays offering cut up raisins soaked in water, suet, suet mixtures, peanut butter mixtures, peanut hearts, cut up currants, pecan meats, sliced pears, strawberries, cherries, cottage cheese, and pieces of American cheese. They will also eat cooked plain spaghetti, doughnuts, white bread and cornbread.

If you have robins in your area and a sudden snowstorm comes up, the best thing you can do for them is to take a shovel and dig up a section of earth, turning over the soil to allow the robins to get worms. Raw hamburger, American cheese, and cooked spaghetti can also be offered at this time. Mealworms, available at pet stores and from the Duncraft catalog, are also appreciated.

Robins will use a nesting shelf in which to build their nest. This shelf can be attached to the side of a barn, garage, or under the eaves of a house, etc., but should be near a garden area or place where the birds can get mud, as the female lines the nest with mud by smearing it on the inner bowl with her breast. They breed from April to July in the Northern areas. They will have two or three broods.

 (source: duncraft.com)