NEWS ALERT

National Robin Day 2021: Celebrate and support Britain’s favourite songbird through the cold winter!

• A celebration of robins - Britain’s beloved species - from 1st - 21st Dec
• Campaign mascot, Ruby Robin, champions her species and other small birds
• Learn about the issues birds face to survive the winter, and how to help, especially in small gardens or urban spaces

“Everyone loves the Robin for its symbolic connections with the festive season, but these birds are not just for Christmas - many songbird species need our help. With their habitats lost to humans, we must support them through the cruellest months.” - Susan Morgan, CEO, SongBird Survival

1st December 2021 [LONDON] Amid plummeting temperatures nationwide, the #NationalRobinDay Campaign launches to raise awareness of the challenges our birds and wildlife face each winter, culminating on National Robin Day: 21st December. It informs the public how to help, regardless of their age, or how big their outdoor space is.  

With habitats being lost to urbanisation, and other threats at play, songbirds increasingly depend on humans to make the harsh winter months easier by providing food, water and shelter. Smaller birds are particularly prone to physical stresses: a robin can lose up to 10% of its body fat in one cold night.  

While the British public spots robins on balconies, gardens, and local parks, they should know how tough the winter months are for nature. Indeed, songbird populations have declined by 50% in 50 years*, a fact that is underlined by the independent charity behind the campaign - SongBird Survival - which raises funds for top quality scientific research into this alarming decline, and how to mitigate it.  

^{*The 50% decline refers to all songbird species: some have declined by up to 90%, whilst others have increased.}

HOW TO HELP OUR BELOVED ROBINS SURVIVE AND THRIVE THIS WINTER

The SongBird Survival website lists out how to help, and the campaign will teach the public how to keep Ruby Robin and her friends in tip-top condition, so they have the best possible start to the breeding season. For instance by providing:

• natural food sources that are clean, and sited in safe locations  
• shelter
• clean water
• high-quality supplementary food
• nesting sites
• protection from cats and other predators
• good hygiene of feeders, bird baths and nest boxes
• vertical growing climbers eg. Clematis montana
• plant insect attracting plants
• Ice and snow-free space

The public is encouraged to donate to help fund independent scientific studies into how to support UK songbirds. For instance, via research by the University of Sussex and the University of Exeter into pesticides’ impact on birds, and improving the welfare of cats and other wildlife (respectively).

Hashtags

#NationalRobinDay #NationalRobin #RubyRobin #RubysHeroes #RobinsArentJustForChristmas

ABOUT SONGBIRD SURVIVAL

Founded in 2001, SongBird Survival is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to halting the alarming decline of song and other small birds – birds, such as corn bunting, willow tit, tree & house sparrow. It does so by funding independent scientific studies that aim to shed light on the reasons why around 50% of our songbirds have disappeared over the past 50 years. These studies will help determine how land can be managed more sustainably, with a view to restoring a rich, balanced and resilient population of birds similar to that enjoyed in the 1970s to help keep a healthy dawn chorus alive.

www.songbird-survival.org.uk   |  Facebook @SongBirdSBS  | Twitter @SongBirdSBS | Instagram @songbirdsurvival 

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