Robins Will Be Thrilled To Find These Kitchen Scraps In Your Yard

Your backyard birdies are hungry, and they look like they're about to clear out the last of the seed mix from the feeder. The robins are looking particularly peckish, maybe because they don't typically snack on seeds. Hit the fridge to see what you come up with, because there are two items hiding there that robins will delight in: cheese and fruit. This snack combo is a lesser-known way to attract more robins to your yard and keep them there.

The birds don't need a beautifully arranged charcuterie board, either. As long as it's not moldy, grab the stuff that's just past appealing for humans. Feed the birds for less by offering them bruised or wrinkled fruits and trimmings along with small bits of cheese. Leftover cheese shreds provide robins with a dose of protein, fat, and calcium that's especially welcome during the winter months. In moderation, both American robins (Turdus migratorius) and European ones (Erithacus rubecula) enjoy mild, hard cheese like cheddar or Monterey jack. While a fruity snack for robins is hard to find fault with, cheese should be more of an occasional treat rather than a regular offering. Be sure to provide only small pieces of these foods for the birds to make it easier for them to eat.

The next time you're trimming off smushed spots on fruit or there are some extra flakes of cheese clinging to the grater, don't throw them out. Set this tempting combo out on a platform feeder, a feeding table, or, better yet, right on the ground where robins prefer to eat.

If you normally compost food scraps, you're already doing a lot to fight food waste. But diverting some of those edible scraps toward the birds is an extra contribution to the environment. (Besides, cheese is among the foods you should never add to a compost pile.) Both American and European robins enjoy fruit in the wild, especially in winter when their ideal meal — insects — is scarce. When you're preparing bits of fruit for your friends, keep in mind the size of wild berries when you cut the pieces. Some backyard birders report that grapes and raisins are particularly tasty for robins. However, if you have dogs, be very careful with how you make this treat available. Grapes are highly toxic to dogs, so if you have pups that share outdoor space with the birds, it's probably best to give grapes a miss and keep your doggos safe.

Grated cheese is just the right size for birds, rather than large chunks they have to peck at. Plus, pieces this size aren't likely to ooze out too much oil in the sun; if excess oils get on birds' feathers, this can affect their feathers' waterproof and insulative properties while also interfering with their ability to fly. Also avoid giving cheeses with added seasonings like onion or garlic to the birds, since these ingredients can upset their digestive systems. If the cheese is too soft to grate, it's not a good option for birds. Sticky or wet cheeses like brie or cottage cheese can gum up their feathers and cause them problems similar to how oils do.