The song thrush's morning proclamations remind naturalist and writer Amy-Jane Beer that she's home. In this episode Amy describes how she finds the confident delivery of this species' song reassuring and grounding in troubled times.Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol
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George McGavin on the Snowy Owl
Entomologist and wildlife presenter George McGavin describes a magical encounter with a snowy owl. The sighting happened while George was on a university field recording trip fifty years ago, on the island of Unst in Shetland. Snowy owls primarily live in the polar Arctic regions, and while a small number have previously bred in Shetland, they remain rare visitors, so to spot one in the British Isles is incredibly lucky. Presented by George McGavin and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in BristolFeaturing a recording from Xeno-Canto by Patrik Ã…berg: Snowy owl - XC277682
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Hannah Stitfall on the Chiffchaff
For wildlife filmmaker and TV presenter Hannah Stitfall, the chiffchaff's song is the first sign of Spring. Each year in March and April she will spend hours following these little birds along the hedgerows trying to get some good shots, watching them feeding from flowering blackthorn, with their beaks covered in pollen. By mid-summer chiffchaffs shift their energy from courtship to preparation, as they will soon be off on their long migration to their wintering grounds. Hannah always listens out for the chiffchaff's last song of the season, before they head back to southern Europe and North Africa.Presented by Hannah Stitfall and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio Production in Bristol.
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Paul Farley on the Reed Bunting
In poet Paul Farley's house the reed bunting is known as The Vicar. For Paul, the way it finds a high place on the tip of a reed from which to call gives off a pulpit vibe, and the contrast between the jet-black head and the brilliant white collar beneath makes it like a bird of the cloth. Whenever he sees a reed bunting in the reedbeds at the Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire, a poem always writes itself.Presented by Paul Farley and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio Production in BristolFeaturing a recording from Xeno-Canto by Simon Elliott: Common Reed Bunting - XC787452.
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Jo Wimpenny on the New Caledonian Crow
If you were walking past the Zoology building at the University of Oxford in the mid-noughties, you might have heard an unusual bird call. It’s undeniably crow-like, but not a UK native. It’s the New Caledonian crow, and zoologist and author Jo Wimpenny was studying them for her PhD. Jo describes her fondness for this bird, which is one of nature's smartest, due to its ability to make and use tools.Presented by Jo Wimpenny and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio Production in Bristol.Featuring a recording from Xeno-Canto by Patrik Åberg: New Caledonian Crow - XC40120.
Discover birds through their songs and calls. Each Tweet of the Day begins with a call or song, followed by a story of fascinating ornithology inspired by the sound.
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