Let me tell you about the Birds and Bees (birdfood.co.uk)

Member Name: robinlawrie

Product:	birdfood.co.uk
Date:	17/09/01 (243 review reads)
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One of the greatest gifts that this country has to offer is its wild bird population. It is said that familiarity breeds contempt, and this certainly appears to be the case with our native bird population. It is only necessary to go abroad, in order to see what happens when wild birds are not given adequate protection. Migrating birds trying to make it to this country have to endure barrages of guns as they cross most European countries. And I am not talking about game birds, but anything at all that flies is considered fair game to these “sportsmen”. The situation is gradually improving but countries such as Spain have a long way to go before the barbaric practice of shooting migrating birds is totally outlawed.

Apart from the migratory birds, we also have our very own stay at home native population. They also have their problems in that the environment around them is constantly changing, and always for the worse. The loss of hedgerows has decimated the wildlife population in certain parts of the country, and their food supply at times can only be described as uncertain at the best of times.

Try and imagine what it would be like if our country were devoid totally of birds. Apart from the ecological issues such as imbalances in the insect and slug populations, just try and imagine the terrible silence without birdsong. The loss of the entire bird population may of course be unlikely, but is there anything that you can do to ensure that it never happens? The answer is yes. Apart from subscribing to the RSPB, you can help mostly by feeding them.

It is a total misconception, that the feeding of wild birds requires nothing more than a few breadcrumbs tossed out when there is snow on the ground. To begin with, the bread is next to useless and birds need feeding nearly all year round. Research has proved that October is the only month in the year when birds can find enough food for themselves. Supplementary feeding wi
ll gain in importance from November right through the winter until April, when birds will disperse to their individual breeding grounds. Extra food is needed when they are feeding their young from early May onwards. Feeding activity increases steadily until September. This means that it is necessary to feed on a regular basis all year round.

Birds will never overeat as they require an optimum weight for flying, but they need to consume 30% of their body weight per day and it is important that they receive the correct food. You have the option of buying from pet shops, supermarkets etc, bags of food and nuts that you probably think is perfect for the job in hand. Some of the cheaper mixes can contain a high proportion of unsuitable ingredients such as lentils, grass seed, split peas and crushed dog biscuit, in other words, waste from other products. This is totally useless and will be ignored by everything except possibly hungry pigeons, who appear to eat anything going.

So where then can you get hold of the correct food and advice on all things pertaining to our feathered friends? The answer is at the excellent website of C.J.Wildbird Foods where you will find people who are dedicated to not only wild birds, but hedgehogs, squirrels, bats and even badgers.

The website is at www.birdfood.co.uk and is very fast and easy to navigate. The home page tells you about them and informs you that they are the exclusive manufacturer of the RSPB bird care range of products.

The website is split into the following:

•OnLine Shop
•Tips and Advice
•Birdwatch
•News
•Your Letters

The shop has a secure server and is great for all bird and animal lovers. It not only has food, but feeders, books, nestboxes, in fact just about everything you could possibly need. They advertise that their food is “prepared using top quality ingredients, mostly supplied to huma
n consumption standard.” They also specialise in gift products or if you are not certain what to get, why not send a gift voucher. In my opinion, a feeder gift pack makes a perfect present.

Your garden needs insects and bees; here you can get information and products to assist you in making a perfect habitat. Have you heard about the “Red Mason Bee”? The chance is that you have them without knowing. This is a non-aggressive native bee that is vital to pollination in your garden. Why not help it by buying and setting up a nesting cylinder.

Squirrels, badgers and hedgehogs could be all part of your garden, find out how here.
Postage and packing is FREE except for orders totalling less than £15, where there is a charge of £3.

The Tips and Advice section is choc a block with information. There is advice on such things as how to feed, when to feed, and what with. Other garden animals are covered here including bats. Do you want to attract them? Why are they in decline? Find out the answers here.

The Birdwatch is an ongoing programme that is attempting to find out just how severe the decline in our native bird population is. Pictures and fact files are all here and a request that you look out for the: Redpoll, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Linnet or any other unusual species in your garden.

The news section is exactly what it says, up to date information on the world of wild birds. My particular favourite is “A Robin is not just for Xmas” which shows that the number of gardens with a Robin in summer is increasing.

“Your Letters” is feedback from everyone including some excellent photographs showing bird tables and feeders being used for other than their intended use.

There is a free screensaver available for download, a handbook, which you can get by emailing the company, and a huge number of links to other related websites.


This is a commercial site and not a charity, however in my opinion, the ends justify the means and if the end result is more birds in our gardens, then I hope this website is a huge success.

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