I just love feeding the birds in our garden.   It gives me huge pleasure to watch them flock to the bird feeders and tuck in.  I love to watch the different species, their beautiful markings and feathers - they are so tiny, so stunning and they do love to dive into the feeders and then fly off again.

Anyway, if you're looking for some bird feeders for your garden, do take a look at Viovet.co.uk.

They have a number of bird feeders on special offer including the two below:

 Supa Sutherland Bird Seed Feeder
 Was £7.99, now £5.83

The range consists of high quality feeders which - as you can see - are very colourful.  There's an integral tray to help stop seed falling to the ground. The feeder is easy to clean, too.  It's supplied in a randomly allocated colour.  

C J Wild Bird Square Hanging Feeding Bird Table
Was £15.27, now £11.87

The thing I like about this design is that it should be easy to put bird food on to the tray, and also very easy to see the birds enjoying a feast!  

Fly off to Viovet.co.uk to see their wild bird products

It's soooo exciting!   Koala Creek will open on the 29th March 2019 according to Longleat's website.  Longleat is based in Wiltshire

The Southern Koalas' arrival is part of an initiative by the Government of South Australia to enhance the management and conservation of the koala.  Longleat will act as a European hub for the newly-created International Koala Centre of Excellence (IKCE)

The Daily Mail had a wonderful article in it today on the Koalas's arrival - you can read it here. 

In addition, "native" European wolves are settling in to the woods of Longleat and a  pair of Critically Endangered Cuban crocodiles are settling in to a new purpose-built semi-aquatic display.  They are known for their ability to jump out of water. 

You can buy tickets for Longleat from them online.  Picniq have special offer discounted tickets for Longleat too. 

So here’s a new version of the Tug of War game.

This time, it’s between two donkeys and it involves a Wellington Boot.

Who will win?   Wiggins or Harry?

You'll find this video on You Tube here 
©Redwings Horse Sanctuary

The donkeys live at the Redwings Horse Sanctuary.  The sanctuary rescues abandoned, mistreated and neglected horses and donkeys from across the UK.  IT gives them a safe place to live and provides all they need for life long care, including veterinary treatment and rehabilitation.   Crucially, it also educates current owners and future generations about the value of horse welfare. There are about 2,000 animals at Redwings, all being looked after.

The sanctuary has 5 visitor centres in Norfolk (there are 2 there), Essex, Warwickshire and Scotland.  If you love donkeys or you’re mad about mules or want a cuddle with a Shetland, take a look at Redwings’ visitors page to find out more.  It’s free to visit (but you can always donate on your way out to help the sanctuary look after these wonderful animals. 

Can’t visit?  That’s okay! 

There are plenty of ways to help support Redwings Horse Sanctuary - here are just a few of them.

• Visit and subscribe to their You Tube channel and enjoy the videos
• Spread the word on social media :-) 
• Visit if you’re in their area – I’d say it’s always best to check they are open before you go
• Adopt a donkey
• Support their shop (check out their Redwings Charity Shop) which gives a gift to the animals themselves
• Volunteer – these aren’t hands on roles but there’s plenty to do to lend your support to the charity including fundraising and ultimately enable it to provide the best care possible for the animals with them and those who need help and rescue 
  
  

CANTER SWIFTLY AWAY TO
REDWINGS HORSE SANCTUARY’S WEBSITE

It's International Polar Bear Day every year on 27th February.  The day is a great opportunity to discover more about polar bears and in particular the challenges they face and how we can all help.

Polar Bears International is a non-profit charity located in North America. 

And they've been studying polar bears for years.   Their mission is to conserve polar bears and the sea ice they depend on.  And they work to inspire people to care for the Arctic and make that vital connection between the Arctic and our global climate.

Polar Bears International have a short video on You Tube which shows a journey to the Arctic through the eyes of Ursula, a polar bear. 

Produced by Handcraft ©Polar Bears International

Visit Polar Bears International here

They have lots of wonderful information about polar bears and how you can get involved and help them.

Have you got 20 minutes to spare?  If so, the British Trust for Ornithology need some help!

They are running a Tawny Owl Survey and they need as many people as possible to exercise their ears and listen out for these beautiful animals.

All you have to do is listen for just 20 minutes during at least one evening between now and 31 March 2019.  You’re listening for the beautiful Tawny Owl, and you don’t have to have a garden – you can lie in bed and listen for the Tawny Owl or head to your local park or woodland. 

Even if you don’t hear anything, that will help.   Every survey answer helps, even zero.  The video below from You Tube shows you what to listen out for.

You can listen for their hooting and kee-wick calls between sunset and midnight.   You need to let the BTO know the date, start time of your survey, estimated cloud cover and whether or not you hear an owl!

If you hear a Tawny Owl at another time of the week outside the survey, you can record that as well, and you can record your weekly results online.

It will be even more helpful if you can repeat your survey in the weeks leading up to 31 March 2019.   The more weeks you can listen the better – gaps between them don’t matter – but do as many weeks as you can.

If you enjoy taking part you can repeat your survey in subsequent weeks. The more weeks that you can listen the better, but you can do as many or as few weeks as you are able. Gaps between weeks don't matter.

Download the instructions here.

If you'd prefer to record on paper recording sheets rather than use our online system, you can - email us at [email protected] or call 01842 750050.

Just take a look at this You Tube video from Chester Zoo..... and see Kyra being a little bit clumsy, bless her...

Kyra is a Sun Bear and the first of this species to be born in the UK!

Visit Chester Zoo's website here to find out more

There's a new arrival at ZSL London Zoo. 

Sumatran Tiger Asim came to the UK from Denmark in true tiger fashion.  He's come as a mate for resident female tiger, Melati.

Asim had warm straw, snacks and drinks and a climate control.  His new keepers had visited him in Denmark to meet him and get to know him.  They discovered that he loves to play, loves to play, especially by pouncing on piles of empty boxes sprayed with strong scents such as herbs and spices.

So how is the romance going?   

At the moment, Asim and Melati can smell and see each other from separate paddocks because Asim needs to settle into his new surroundings before he formerly meets Melati.  However, there are good signs - the keepers have seen lots of chuffing, a happy sound tigers to make to let each other know they've got good intentions, so this is a promising start.

Asim was matched with Melati through the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for Sumatran tigers, which is coordinated by ZSL London Zoo’s experts.  It aims to save the species from extinction. 

Find out more and buy tickets to ZSL London Zoo

The RSPB Online Shop has a couple of special offers on as follows:

Half price 3kg Buggy Nibbles when you spend £35 - this offer is on until 9th April 2019. 

Supersuet cakes x 10 50% OFF until 13 February 2019.

Fly away to the RSPB's Online Shop here to shop for wildlife!