Robin and hanging feeder

Hi Forestpony

One of the robins that visits my garden hangs onto my tubular feeder and has a peck at a few sunflower seeds or more likely the dried mealworms that are with them in the bottom of the feeder. Like yours, it isn't a very polished performance and he flutters a bit, but he regularly has a go especially later in the afternoons when all of the suet pellets have been eaten from the wooden tray feeder on the fence.

Best wishes Chris

Hi Forestpony,

I have 3 robins who feed in my garden much of the day, but I've never seen them on a hanging feeder other than one with a tray at the bottom.

I have two robins that visit every day.  They usually feed from the ground or the table, but both have used the handing seed feeders particulary the Sunflower hearts or if there are mealworms mixed in the mixed seed they will take these.

Hi all,

        I have a specially formulated robin mix in a feeder but have never seen ANY birds on it never mind a robin!

     I used to get 2 regular robins bt havent seen ANY of them since the harsh winter ended.

    ( P.S: I spotted the long tailed tits again this morning in next doors front garden ! )

    Coal

A couple of years ago one of our robins learned to cling on the fat ball feeder, flapping madly. At least one other copied with limited success. 

Last year, having pretty well mastered the fat balls one robin moved on to the seed feeder occasionally as well, but couldn't really get the hang of the small perches. 

Late last summer we replaced the seed feeder for one that has a triangular perch by each seed outlet, and over the winter one robin has learned to use this comfortably too. 

Definitely been on a continuous development or life-long learning course has our robin! 

Robin may have his BSc now (Bachelor of Scoffing), but what must he learn for his Masters? 

Laurence

Hello there,

I have robins, in fact 2, who eat happily for my hanging feeders.  Not just the one with sun flowers but also the one with mixed seed.  I also have mealworms too but they are in open feeder trays and they both use these too.   They are both quite adept hanging on the feeders and don't seem at all bothered.  I also have Dunnocks who do the same.

Seems robins are learning everywhere albeit slowly - well done them

Thank you to all who replied

Theresa

Hi Forestpony,

bit late with my reply here so I apologise :o)

Although we've had a few robin visitors over the years, we've never had one that can manage a tubular feeder.  Although my auntie who lives in Paddignton, London, has two robins who both feed off hanging feeders with relative ease.

I've also seen it at the feeding stations at a few RSPB reserves :o)

Just to add to the list one of my robins has adapted to feed easily from a tube hanging feeder, and as some one else posted. he seems to prefer feeding this way now. Only going on the ground feeder or table if there are mealworms. I have seed on the ground feeder and table but he prefers to take his seed from the hanging feeders.   When he first strted in the winter he looked like a humming bird, but he soon got the hang of it and can hop onto a perch, have some SF seeds and then go. the other robin feeds from the table or ground.......

So it seems plenty of robins have easily adapted to feeding from the hanging feeders. Clever little birds,, (some of them anyway, lol)