Bird Feeders

Sunflower bird seed is by far the most popular bird seed that attracts a large variety of wild birds. There are quite a few types and styles of Bird Feeders for sunflower seeds and most do a good job.

The Sunflower Seed Bird Feeder shown here is a wire mesh style that has internal dividers that keep the seed in the upper levels longer which results in more birds being able to feed at the same time. It also has a small tray to accommodate perching birds like Cardinals. Clinging birds like the Chickadee, Titmouse, Nuthatch and Woodpeckers like to cling to the wire mesh to feed.

Goldfinch Thistle seed bird feeders are the second most popular type of bird feeder. Thistle seed is tiny seeds that Goldfinches and others love. A good example of a thistle feeder is the yellow accented wire mesh feeder designed just for the thistle. This Finch Tube Bird Feeder has internal dividers to maintain seed in upper levels for longer use by many birds. Its tray catches fallen seed so the birds can still find and use it.

Peanut bird feeders can be added as an extra type of feeder to attract more unusual types of birds. The red Spiral Peanut Bird Feeder holds the peanuts in wire openings that are just right to allow birds to peck their treat out. This gives the opportunity to see these birds for a longer time. Red Belly Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, etc. all frequent this type of feeder. The spiral arm gives them an extra perch that they like to go around on to find their choice peanut.

These are just a few examples of all the different styles available, more Bird Feeders can be seen here. Squirrel Baffles can be added to these bird feeders to have Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders.

Time for a facelift

With Spring well & truly here we thought we should celebrate with a facelift - of the website!

Our current website (www.wildbirdfood.uk.com) has been around for a few years now & whilst it works & serves many hundreds of happy shoppers every week, we don't want to rest on our laurels; we want to improve & expand. And that begins with our shop window to the world - the company website.

We're currently testing the new site to make sure the launch is seamless & painless - we think we'll be ready to go live in early May and of course, we'll keep you posted here on our blog & on our other social media feeds - Facebook & twitter.

Peter, Anne & the team are looking forward to the next phase of Kennedy Wild Bird Food & we're sure you're going to like the improvements we've got lined up for you.

More news coming to you soon ….

Nesting Season

The clocks have changed, the sun is brighter (& thankfully warmer) and the birds are starting to build their nests.

But what can you do to help them?

Well, for starters you can erect a bird box which will provide a safe shelter away from the elements and predators. We sell a number of nesting boxes, suitable for all environments & surfaces so whether you've got a wall in an inner-city back yard or a tree in the countryside, a bird box from the Nesting Box Company will be a great find for a young couple of sparrows, robins or tits looking to settle down this spring.

And if you're providing shelter for the young lovers, you'd better supply some food so they can get all the necessary nutrients for themselves & their fledglings.

Our peanuts, mixed seeds, sunflower hearts & live mealworms are the perfect meal to dish up in a Droll Yankee feeder. And with a 5% discount plus free next day delivery for orders over £50, you could have your very own bird hotel up & running in next to no time.

Drop us a line at info@wildbirdfood.uk.com or call the team on 01778 342665 - we're standing by & ready to take your order or answer your questions.

We look forward to hearing from you very soon.

Happy Birding,
Peter, Anne & the team at Kennedy Wild Bird Food.

10% Off Your Next Order

We're running an offer for you to earn yourself a 10% discount off your next order.

All you have to do is recommend Kennedy Wild Bird Food to a friend or relative & asks them to quote your name when they place their first order by calling 01778 342665.

We will then ensure you receive a tasty 10% discount off your next order.

You can use your 10% on any of our fantastic bird seed, bird feeders, nesting boxes or even off your dog food or cat food - it's your 10% to spend on whatever you like.

So what are you waiting for - share our Facebook page, twitter feed, google+ page and website with your contact list & ask them to mention your name on their first order - it's as easy as that.

We're looking forward to hearing from your friends and you very soon.

Peter, Anne & the team at Kennedy Wild Bird Food.

Rave Reviews

There's nothing better than a pat on the back & to be told you're doing a great job.

Well that exactly what our fantastic customers have been doing on independent feedback site FEEFO.

These are just a very small selection of the reviews we've had in recent weeks ...

"The products are wide ranging and you can always get the type of bird food you need for your feathered friends, plus very good delivery of the product."

"All I can say is that the birds are enjoying it, and I am having to top up my feeder far more at the moment, so it must be good."

"Service rating : Always delivered very quickly. Product: Always first class"

"Service rating : Website is easy to navigate. Delivery is very quick. Excellent service, would recommend. Product: Delighted with this mixture, does exactly what it says - No Grow. Perfect! Very popular with the birds."

"Service rating : Always been happy with the service and value from KWBF. Product: Birds seem to appreciate the sunflower hearts as well...19 goldfinches all at the same time on the feeders says it all!!"

"Best company I have used for buying wild bird food. Ordered and delivered in 2-3 days max"

"Service rating : Good products for wild birds and squirrels in the grounds of my home. Product: Squirrels and birds love them. Premium grade is worth few extra pounds"

Please follow the link to read them all - http://www.feefo.com/reviews/Kennedy-Wild-Bird-Food-Ltd/?logon=www.wildbirdfood.uk.com

Peter, Anne & the team would like to thank all of our customers for taking the time to leave such glowing reviews of our products & services. We read every single one of them and we are using them to help shape the business going forward so we can improve every aspect of Kennedy Wild Bird Food.

How Do Wild Birds Keep Warm In Winter?

Many backyard birders are astonished at the wide variety of winter birds that visit their feeders even on the coldest days, and they may wonder “how do wild birds keep warm in winter?” Birds have many superb adaptations that allow them to survive even in the most frigid conditions, and birders who understand what birds need to keep warm can easily help their feathered friends.
Birds are warm-blooded animals that have a much higher metabolism, and thus higher body temperature, than humans. While the exact measurement varies for different bird species, the average bird’s body temperature is 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). Body temperature can fluctuate during the day depending on climate and activity, but it can be a challenge for birds to maintain such a high body heat when temperatures dip too severely. Smaller birds are particularly at risk, since they have a proportionally larger surface area on their bodies to lose heat but a smaller core volume to generate it. Even the smallest birds, however, have several ways they can efficiently keep warm.
What Wild Birds Do to Keep Warm
Birds have many physical and behavioral adaptations to keep warm, no matter what the low temperatures of their surroundings.
Physical Adaptations
Feathers: Birds’ feathers provide remarkable insulation against the cold, and many bird species grow extra feathers as part of a late fall molt to give them thicker protection in the winter. The oil that coats birds’ feathers also provides insulation as well as waterproofing.
Legs and Feet: Birds’ legs and feet are covered with specialized scales that minimize heat loss. Birds can also control the temperature of their legs and feet separately from their bodies by constricting blood flow to their extremities, thereby reducing heat loss even further.
Fat Reserves: Even small birds can build up fat reserves to serve as insulation and extra energy for generating body heat. Many birds will gorge during the fall when food sources are abundant, giving them an extra fatty layer before winter arrives.
Behavioral Adaptations

Fluffing: Birds will fluff out their feathers to create air pockets for additional insulation in cold temperatures.
Tucking: It is not unusual to see a bird standing on one leg or crouched to cover both legs with its feathers to shield them from the cold. Birds can also tuck their bills into their shoulder feathers for protection.
Sunning: On sunny winter days, many birds will take advantage of solar heat by turning their backs to the sun (therefore exposing the largest surface of their bodies to the heat) and raising their feathers slightly. This allows the sun to heat the skin and feathers more efficiently. Wings may also be drooped or spread while sunning, and the tail may be spread as well.
Shivering: Birds will shiver to raise their metabolic rate and generate more body heat as a short term solution to extreme cold. While shivering does require more calories, it is an effective way to stay warm.
Roosting: Many small birds, including bluebirds, chickadees and titmice, will gather in large flocks at night and crowd together in a small, tight space to share body heat. They can roost in shrubbery or trees, and empty birdhouses and bird roost boxes are also popular locations to conserve heat. Even individual birds choose roost spots that may have residual heat from the day’s sunlight, such as close to the trunk of a tree or near any dark surface.
Torpor
Many birds will enter torpor to conserve energy during cold winter nights. Torpor is a state of reduced metabolism when the body temperature is lowered, therefore requiring fewer calories to maintain the proper heat. Most birds can lower their body temperature by a few degrees, but torpid birds have lowered their body temperatures by as much as 50 degrees. Torpor can be a dangerous behavior, however, as the reduced temperature also leads to reduced reactions and greater vulnerability to predators. Hummingbirds, chickadees, swifts and other types of birds regularly use torpor as a way to survive cold temperatures.
Helping Keep Birds Warm
Even with all these adaptations to conserve heat and stay warm, many birds still succumb to frigid temperatures and bird mortality can be very high during severe winters. Birders who know how to keep wild birds warm in winter can help their backyard flocks have an edge over the cruelest weather.
Offer Good Food: Choosing the best winter bird foods to offer means selecting seeds, suet, scraps and other items high in fat and calories to give birds plenty of energy to generate sufficient body heat.
Keep Feeders Full: After a long, cold night birds will need ready access to food to replenish their energy reserves. Keep your birdfeeders full of nutritious seed no matter what the weather so the birds know where to go for a high energy meal.
Offer Liquid Water: Birds can melt snow to drink if necessary, but doing so will use precious energy that is needed to maintain body heat. If the birds can drink from a liquid birdbath even in freezing temperatures, they will have a better chance at survival.
Provide Shelter: Plant evergreen shrubs and coniferous trees that will provide suitable shelter throughout the winter, or build a brush pile to give birds a safe, sheltered place to roost. Adding a roost box to your yard is also helpful.
When temperatures start to dip, it isn’t necessary to worry about how birds keep warm; they have plenty of efficient adaptations to survive even the chilliest nights. Birders who understand those adaptations and help birds with even better food, shelter and other necessities, however, will be sure to enjoy warm and healthy winter backyard birds no matter how cold it is outside.
Please contact Kennedy Wild Bird Foods if you have any questions about feeding wild birds this winter.

5 easy steps to Winter bliss for your feathered visitors

So with Winter just around the corner and Christmas just 5 weeks away, we wanted to make sure you're fully prepared for the cold snap with these 5 easy steps to Winter bliss for your feathered visitors ....

• 1.       Your bird feeders should be filled regularly with fresh, frost free feed. Sunflower heart chips are an excellent source of nutrients for a wide variety of UK wild birds.
• 2.       Fat Balls and Suet Blocks should be hung in your garden and on your patio - again your garden birds will love these as they are full of nuts, seeds and the all important fat to keep them full and help them build up a healthy plumage.
• 3.       Birds like nothing more than live feed - but that can be very difficult for them to find when the ground is covered in ice and snow so put out some mealworms and waxworms - live are best, but dried will be a suitable alternative.
• 4.       Water baths and drinking stations should be filled daily with fresh cold water. Do not put hot or boiling water out, but on the other hand please try to keep the ice off the water.
• 5.       And finally, Nesting Boxes should be cleared out and repaired or replaced in preparation for the spring.

We hope that helps you cover the basics this winter - wild birds can survive very cold snaps but a fresh bowl of water, a handful of dried mealworms and a feederfull of sunflower hearts will be a very welcome sight on a cold frosty morning.

And don't forget our Photograph Competition where you can win a £50 voucher to spend at www.wildbirdfood.uk.com so put your feeders and baths in a position where you can see them from your kitchen window and get snapping away when your feathered friends come to dine.