By Alex Evans,Sarah Magliocco

Copyright rsvplive

Robins, with their distinctive red breasts, are among Ireland’s most cherished birds.

However, they’re not just a symbol of Christmas, these delightful creatures can be spotted in our gardens all year round.

But robins don’t just thrive in gardens by accident. With increasing threats to bird habitats due to shrinking living spaces, climate change, rising temperatures and declining insect populations, gardeners are being urged to take steps to support all birds in their outdoor spaces, including robins, of course.

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Robins are “more likely” to visit your garden if they “feel secure from predators,” according to the UK’s Woodland Trust.

This means you may need to move your bird feeders to protect robins from the threat posed by cats, if you want them to keep coming to your garden for food, as reported by the Express.

The Trust elaborates: “Robins, and other birds, are more likely to spend time in your garden if they feel safe from predators like cats. Ideally, bird feeders should be positioned around 2m away from dense vegetation. This will reduce the chance of a surprise attack by cats, and means birds can still easily retreat to cover if needed.”

The organisation also suggests gardeners think about installing nest boxes, positioned in peaceful areas “out of cats’ reach.”

It advised: “Nest boxes should be placed in a quiet area of your garden out of the reach of cats. Facing the box between north and east is ideal as this will avoid exposure to the strongest sunlight and wettest winds.”, reports Dublin Live.

“Bird feeders should be cleaned regularly to prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria. Nest boxes should be cleaned, with old nests removed, each autumn.

“Make sure birds have stopped using the box before you take any action. By following these steps you can increase the chances of attracting not just robins, but a whole host of birds to your garden too.”

Robins can struggle to eat during the autumn as their food sources start to diminish, and Irish households can help with this too.

As berries and insects become more difficult to find, robins unable to gain sufficient weight before winter are more vulnerable to cold weather conditions.

Wildlife specialists at Beaky Bites have shared a source of food that you can leave in your garden for robins, that they love, and it’s peanuts.

One specialist explained: “Peanuts and sunflower hearts are healthy options Robins love. These foods provide the proteins and fats they need. Sunflower hearts are particularly nutritious and are a Robin favourite during breeding season.

“You can offer peanuts and sunflower hearts by scattering them on the ground or in platform feeders. These foods are not only healthy but also very attractive to robins so add them to your feeders to increase interaction from robins.”