Swallows are an interesting species of bird. These birds tend to return to their previous nests after their long and tiring migration journeys from their winter locations. At the onset of the spring you generally start receiving these tiny feathered friends around the roof tops looking for a nest to prepare for their next brood.

The swallows are not usually very picky and can even settle in cavities that exist here and there or might even make use of some other existing nests. There are of course those swallows who like to create new nests using soft mud. These birds tend to build their nests in places that are well hidden from the bigger predators as also safe from the harsh weather.

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It fills my heart with pride to see our Swallows back and swooping over our Really Wild Bird feed production farm. They are miracles of migration. It is very humbling to think that they navigated the 3,000 miles back from South Africa ( via the treacherous Sahara desert ) to Street End Farm, without any need for a post code or a TomTom! Weighing in at a meagre 20g (about the weight of 2 x £1 coins) - I wonder how much they lose during their trip? The coincidental arrival of Eleanor's pony, Megan, and the pile of associated pony dung will create an additional source of airborne insects for the Swallows to replenish their depleted stores. Isn't it amazing to think that Barn Swallows will feed their young about 400 times in a day…that is dedication for you! I can only hope that this summer will be better for them than last - surely it has to be?

In addition to bird feed we now offer a wildflower seeds to enable you to grow your own area of wild flowers that is so beneficial for wildlife. The new seed mixes in stock include the Cornflower Annuals, Bumblebee Mixture, Blaze and the Old English Meadow.

If you are looking for something that will last the entire summer, then the Cornflower Annuals are your best choice. Often found in the corn fields these beautiful bright flowers will bring in a mass of colour to your garden and are also great for insects and birds as the provide pollen and nectar. A light cultivation of the land will also ensure new growth as these multiply by dropping their seed.

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Raisins attract a variety of birds to your garden. These are nutritious for them and are loved by many birds as well as hedgehogs and squirrels. Bird feed often includes raisins in the blend. But did you know that these are very harmful for the pets? Raisins pose a potential threat to the health of the cats and dogs and if consumed by the pets may lead to grave problems such as kidney failure. This is because of the presence of possibly some particular toxin that leads to such renal failures amongst the pets. Those who have cats and dogs as pets should be very careful when it comes to handling bird feed that contains raisins.

At Really Wild Bird Food we have added a new blend of bird feed to our range that is raisin free and thus absolutely safe to use with pets around. This bird feed blend includes flaked maize and home grown and rolled naked oats, pinhead oatmeal, peanut granules, white millet and the plumpest sunflower hearts which makes this bird feed blend a high energy feed and very healthy and nutritious for the birds. This blend is best suited for a number of ground feeding birds such as robins, thrushes, blackbirds, dunnocks and finches and can be used all year round.

Those who do not have pets can go for the Ground Blend which is a fruit and nut muesli for ground feeding birds and is packed full of succulent raisins. Raisins are loved by birds such as blackbirds and thrushes and this blend is great for all such raisin lovers.

Putting bird food out in the garden for the birds is the best way to attract a wide variety of birds to your garden. It is always great to have a garden full of wild birds. And to make sure that these visit your garden often you should keep on filling up those feeders frequently.

Birds can also have their own food preferences however. For instance goldfinches love Niger seeds and sunflower hearts while blackbirds love soaked raisins. The tree sparrows on the other hand love millet and plain canary seeds. Peanuts are a favourite amongst the Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits and Long Tailed Tits, Nuthatches and the Great Spotted Woodpecker.
So when all these different birds have such different preferences, why not try and stock your feeders with a maximum variety of seeds so as to attract a wide variety of different birds?

At Really Wild Bird Food, we have come up with this new Mini Pick and Mix concept wherein you can select 2kgs of any of our Seed Mixes, Straight Seeds or Peanuts! With this offer you can combine some good varieties in a cost effective manner. Choice of seeds is completely up to you and you can choose from 2 to 6 selections of 2kg bags.
At The Really Wild Bird Food Company we have a wide variety of bird feed options to choose from and with this new Mini Pick and Mix concept you can mix and match any combination and save money too!

Bird feeders are your best option if you want to attract a variety of birds to your garden. There are many different kinds of bird feeders available, such as feeder trays, hanging feeders, window feeders and many more. But during wet weather spells, using these feeders is not very feasible since the water creates a lot of problems for feeding the birds. If the wrong type of feeder is used, the seeds will get wet and spoil. In the event of water collecting in the feeder, your bird feed can quickly rot.

However, there are a few things that you can keep in mind which will help you to continue feeding your garden birds during wet, rainy periods and to protect your feed from getting spoilt.

Guarding against rain

To guard against rain, it makes sense to use bird feeders that are in the form of tubes rather than the trays. There are special feeders available with rain guards. These rain guards are domes that can be fitted to the feeders to protect the feed and also provide shelter for small birds. These guards help to keep the feeder seed dry and free-flowing.

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As we begin to see the end of winter and the beginning of spring it is time to check our gardens are good places for birds to thrive. First on the check list is to ensure there is a suitable place for birds to eat and drink, then there is the need to provide adequate nesting boxes.

To provide suitable places for birds to eat erect a bird feeding table and position it close to cover like a bush to provide cover in case birds feel exposed to danger of attack in open spaces. Obviously once you have a good bird feeding table you need to stock up with good bird feed that attracts the right birds.

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National Nest Box Week is great for birds. Starting on Valentine's Day, NNBW takes place each year from the 14th to the 21st of February, and after 10 years it is now an established part of the ornithological calendar.

Nest Box Week reminds us to provide homes for dozens of different species, from blue tits to barn owls. While many people now use bird food to attract wild birds to their gardens, there is often a shortage of nesting opportunities for these feathered friends.

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Bird cameras are a treat to all the bird lovers as they can give a glimpse into the intimate life of our feathered friends right from the time the eggs hatch to the time they are big enough to leave their nests to explore the world. The bird nest cameras are the best ways to observe these birds up close without disturbing them. This is one of the most exciting ways to also study the lives of these birds closely.

Thanks to modern technology and reduced prices the installation of bird cameras is within easy reach of the budgets of most of us

Bird cameras are a treat to all the bird lovers as they can give a glimpse into the intimate life of our feathered friends right from the time the eggs hatch to the time they are big enough to leave their nests to explore the world. The bird nest cameras are the best ways to observe these birds up close without disturbing them. This is one of the most exciting ways to also study the lives of these birds closely.

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Birds are at their most vulnerable during the winter months, when the weather is harsh and food is hard to come by.

You can help your garden birds to survive the winter by making sure they have access to plenty of food and drinking water. However, this can prove difficult: wet weather may spoil the food in your bird feeders, and if snow or ice accumulates on your feeders over winter, this may render the food inaccessible.

In order to prepare your bird feeders for winter and see your feathered friends through this difficult time of year, here's what you'll need to do...

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