The Birdy Bug Pod

The Birdy Bug Pod

di Matthew and Steve

Stagione 1

The toadally awesome natterjack

An exciting episode as we are finally highlighting an amphibian for the first time and it's the wondeful natterjack toad that gets the honour. Our loudest amphibian is also one of our scarcest, being restricted to only a handful of sites across the UK and unfortunately, these precious populations face many threats. Join us as we learn about this fascinating toad, its natural history, the pressures they are under, and of course, the incredible work being done to help conserve and bolster their numbers. Contact: As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! Have you ever seen or heard a natterjack toad? The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens Links :https://www.arc-trust.org/natterjack-toad https://www.arc-trust.org/saving-species-natterjack-toad https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/amphibians/natterjack-toad https://naturebftb.co.uk/projects/gems-in-the-dunes/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/at-home-and-abroad/scotland/conservationinscotland/natterjacks/ https://www.arc-trust.org/news/returning-the-natterjack-toad-to-blackmoor

Batty about bats

International Bat Night takes places over the last full weekend of August every year and we thought it would be the perfect excuse to record an episode all about bats! Grab your drink of choice and join us as we delve into the fascinating world of bats. From speedy fliers to the one of the world's smallest mammals, we got a bit carried away with bat facts. We also look into which species we have here in the UK, what threats they are facing, and of course, the wonderful work being done to protect them. We had a great time learning about a group of animals neither of us had a huge amount of prior knowledge about and were pleased to find some good news stories about the UK bat populations. We hope you enjoy! Contact: As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! What is your favourite bat fact and have you ever participated in a bat survey? The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens Links: https://www.bats.org.uk/ https://arbtech.co.uk/british-bats/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2112044-speedy-bat-flies-at-160kmh-smashing-bird-speed-record/ https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/buildings-planning-and-development/bats-and-churches/bats-and-churches-partnership-project

Ode to a nightingale

After a week of hearing their captivating song in Croatia, we just had to do an episode on the nightingale. Known for producing one of the most beautiful songs in nature, this visually plain but audibly stunning bird is unfortunately struggling and in the UK their populations have seen a massive decline. They need our help. Join us as we learn all about the nightingale, from their cultural impact on poetry, operas, and radio broadcasts, to the environmental threats they are facing. We of course, also look at the invaluable work being carried out to save this incredible bird. Contact: As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! Let us know if you have ever seen or heard a nightingale and what was your favourite fact about them?The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens Links: https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/conservation-advice-notes/managing-scrub-nightingales https://www.gwct.org.uk/wildlife/species-of-the-month/2023/nightingale/https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/birds/nightingale/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/nightingale/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/01/nightingales-at-risk-due-to-shorter-wings-caused-by-climate-crisis https://www.thefield.co.uk/country-house/why-are-nightingales-disappearing-from-the-british-countryside-45570 https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/nightingale Kent Planning Network for Nature (Steve's article on nightingales): https://kent-planning-network-for-nature.org.uk/sign_in?from=https%3A%2F%2Fkent-planning-network-for-nature.org.uk%2Fposts%2Fabout-the-nightingale

An introduction to reintroductions

Reintroducing species, bringing those lost back and bolstering those that are on the verge of disappearing. Join us in this episode as we delve into the world of reintroductions. We look at what it really takes to make reintroduction projects succeed and how work to bring one species back can have far reaching conservation benefits. We also dive into some very well and some lesser-known UK reintroduction success stories. We had a great time researching and recording this episode and it could have easily gone on for hours. It is always nice to cover positive stories of when conservation efforts work. We hope you enjoy listening. Contact: As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! What is your favourite reintroduction success story and which species would you love to see be reintroduced? The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens Links: Ladybird Spider - Back From The Brink (naturebftb.co.uk) Field Cricket - Back From The Brink (naturebftb.co.uk) The projects - Back From The Brink (naturebftb.co.uk) Location of re-introduced Chequered Skipper butterfly revealed | Butterfly Conservation (butterfly-conservation.org) Reintroducing the Great Bustard To Southern England - The RSPB https://www.roydennis.org/

The natural world of Croatia

After our holiday in Croatia, where we both fell in love with the country and were blown away by the wildlife, we wanted to learn more about the nature that you can find there. So grab a drink and join us for our first international episode where we explore the reasons why Croatia has such a wealth of wildlife, discuss the species we saw and those we would like to go back for, as well as look into the pressures Croatian wildlife faces and how it is being protected. We had a lot of fun researching this episode and enjoyed doing something slightly different, we hope you enjoy it! Contact: As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens Links: https://biodiversity.europa.eu/countries/croatia https://friendsofwallacea.org/2020/06/23/croatias-critical-role-in-protecting-european-biodiversity/ https://biodiversity.europa.eu/countries/croatia#f7a812ac-5941-4105-b0c97142393ca3ea https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/country=hrhttps://www.npkrka.hr/en_US/prirodna-bastina/geologija/podzemni-svijet-krsa/podzemni-svijet-krsa-spiljska-fauna/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-olm-the-blind-cave-salamander-that-lives-to-100

An eel-y important episode

This episode, we are venturing underwater for the first time and learning about the complex lives of European eels. From their remarkable migration to the fact that they were once used as currency, these fish are fascinating both biologically and culturally. Yet, their populations have declined dramatically in recent decades, and they are now critically endangered. So, grab your drink of choice and join us as we delve into the wonderful world of eels! Examining their natural history, surprising cultural significance, the causes of their dramatic decline, and of course, the fantastic work going on to help these incredible fish. We thoroughly enjoyed researching this episode and both came away with a real appreciation for an animal we would perhaps otherwise have overlooked. Contact: As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! What was your favourite eel fact? The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens Links: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ancient-mystery-of-european-eel-migration-unravelled-to-help-combat-decline-of-critically-endangered-species https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Anguilla_anguilla/ https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/projects/european-eel-conservation https://www.wwt.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/why-the-once-common-european-eel-is-now-critically-endangered-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/12/eels-endangered-species-calls-to-off-european-menuLife Cycle of a European Eel | Forth Rivers Trust https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/post/what-is-r-eely-going-on?fbclid=IwAR1BdVGoyYJ3fqPbqG1cllkIaTp3bMw3lgDnCKfy1sKDeeW03Ak_yNYKSAM

Stabilising the stag beetle

After decades of dramatic decline, our largest beetle is beginning to stabilise. But the mighty stag beetle still needs our help. So, grab a coffee and settle in as we learn all about stag beetles, why their populations have been declining for so long, how they are beginning to stabilise and the actions we can all take to help these incredible insects. It was about time The Birdy Bug Pod had an insect-specific episode, and what a species for our first one. Contact: As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! Have you seen any stag beetles recently? The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens Links: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/beetles/stag-beetle/https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/stag-beetles.htmlhttps://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/facts-about-stag-beetle/https://ptes.org/campaigns/stag-beetles-2/stag-beetle-facts/https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/stag-beetlehttps://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/record-spectacular-stag-beetles-in-sussex-this-summer-4148425

Why swifts need our help. Swiftly!

This week we are taking to the sky and learning all about the remarkable swifts. There is an abundance of interesting facts about swifts but, like many species, their populations are declining. So, grab a coffee and join us as we delve into the fascinating lives of swifts, examine what is causing their decline, and of course look at how we can all help! We really enjoyed this episode, and each came away with a real appreciation for these incredible birds, we hope you enjoy. Contact: As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! Have you seen a swift yet this year? The easiest way is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew @a.bug.in.the.lens Links: Planning Network for Nature: Kent - https://kent-planning-network-for-nature.org.uk Sussex - https://sussex-planning-network-for-nature.org.uk https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/birds/swift/https://www.swift-conservation.org/ https://actionforswifts.blogspot.com https://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/the-plight-of-swifts-and-what-you-can-do-to-help https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/help-endangered-high-flying-birds https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/

Appreciating Adders

They've had mentions in previous episodes, but this one is all about adders! This stunning snake is often misunderstood but we love them and think they deserve some appreciation. So, grab a coffee and join us as we discuss adders, we learn about their biology, dispel some common myths, delve into the threats they are facing, and of course, highlight the fantastic organisations working to help them. Contact: Please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! The easiest way is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew @a.bug.in.the.lens Links: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/reptiles-and-amphibians/adder/ https://www.arctrust.org/adder https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/discover/history-culture/famous-forest-folk/brusher-mills/snakecatcher/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/01/adder-extinct-across-britain-snake-threat-game-birds-release https://www.arc-trust.org/news/farmers-and-land-managers-urged-to-share-adder-sightings

The Mighty Oak

We are delving into the world of oak trees! We couldn't quite believe the plethora of species that they support. So, grab a coffee and join us as we learn about the cultural, ecological, and environmental importance of these incredible trees. We of course also look at the threats they are facing and the incredible work being done to protect them. Contact:- Please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! The easiest way is to ping us a message on Instagram: Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens Matthew @a.bug.in.the.lens Links:- https://www.rhs.org.uk/disease/oak-declinehttps://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/tree-pests-and-diseases/key-tree-pests-and-diseases/acute-oak-decline/https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/oak-tree-wildlife/https://www.earth.com/news/britains-oak-trees-under-threat/https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/tree-pests-and-diseases/what-we-are-doing/https://www.actionoak.org/about

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