A monthly podcast from the RSPB, Europe's largest conservation charity, with features and interviews reflecting its work to protect birds and the environment in the UK and around the world. From the joys of watching and looking out for the birds in your back garden, to facing up to the challenges of global climate change, Nature's Voice keeps an entertaining, informative and campaigning eye on the world of birds.
A drought for all seasons
Posted: April 2012After one of the wettest Aprils on record East Anglia, the South East, parts of Yorkshire, the Midlands and the South West are still officially in drought. In this edition of Nature's Voice Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Andre Farrar about why this rain hasn't eased the drought, what it means for wildlife and how water shortages could be avoided in future. Plus there are some ideas of how you can step up for nature by saving water.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.Where have all the starlings gone?
Posted: March 2012The Big Garden Birdwatch results have been published and although starlings remain the second most commonly spotted bird in our gardens there has been a further worrying decline in their numbers. Their population is down 79 per cent since the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979. In this episode of Nature’s Voice Jane Markham talks to RSPB scientist Dave Buckingham about why this might be happening and to Liberty Smith – one of the film makers behind a phenomenally successful YouTube video recording their chance encounter with a dramatic murmuration of starlings while they were canoeing in Ireland.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.Thames Estuary airport threat
Posted: February 2012Proposals to build an airport on the north Kent marshes are in the news once again. In this episode of Nature's Voice the RSPB's Rolf Williams, who is based at RSPB Northward Hill, talks to local people about what a new transport hub on the Thames Estuary would mean for them. The marshes are a wetland habitat that is recognised as being of international importance for wildlife and we hear the RSPB conservation director Martin Harper's response in the light of previous threats to the area. There are also details about how you can make your voice heard about the plans.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.Big Garden Birdwatch 2012
Posted: January 2012Which bird's call sounds like a bored football fan chanting United, United, United - and is one of the newest arrivals in the UK to feature in the Big Garden Birdwatch top ten? This edition of Nature's Voice will have the answer to that. Plus Jane Markham talks to RSPB staff in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales on the look out for regional variations and interests when it comes to this year's count. These range from the flashy goldfinch to the chubby nuthatch.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.2011 reviewed and riding the economic storm predicted for 2012
Posted: December 2011In this, extended edition, of Nature's Voice we look ahead to 2012. With gloomy predictions for the state of the economy we discuss at the implications for the environment. We're also tying up some of the loose ends from 2011. Did the spoon-billed sandpiper chicks make it to the UK? When will the government honour its promise to create protected areas at sea and who won the Nature of Farming Awards? Jane Markham is joined at RSPB headquarters by Andre Farrar, Sharon Thompson and Kathryn Smith to provide some answers.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.Vultures, rain forests and solar panels
Posted: November 2011India's vulture population has been devastated over the last 20 years. Ninety nine per cent of one species has been wiped out. We look at why this has happened and, four years after we first featured the subject on the Nature's Voice podcast, we chart progress towards bringing them back from the brink of extinction. Jane Markham also talks to the head of the RSPB's tropical forest unit about the continuing loss of rain forests around the world and initiatives to make the trees more valuable standing than they are as logs. Plus stepping up for nature by investing in solar panels for our homes.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.Come Dine with the birds!
Posted: October 2011Dave Lamb, of Come Dine with Me fame, lends his voice to this year's RSPB Feed the Birds Day. On this month's podcast we look at some innovative ways of feeding our garden birds as halloween approaches and talk to some Nature's Voice Facebookers about how they look after the birds and other wildlife in their gardens. Plus details of how you can win a fabulous Feed the Birds Day kit including a nest box, bird feeders, seed, a pocket book of birds and a cuddly toy!
An audio podcast in MP3 format.Saving the spoon-billed sandpiper
Posted: September 2011The spoon-billed sandpiper is in danger of becoming extinct. The population of this tiny and charming wading bird is crashing by more than a quarter each year. There are now fewer than 300 birds left. They've never been bred in captivity before but because they are so endangered an urgent rescue operation was started earlier this year. 20 eggs were collected from some of the few remaining pairs on their breeding grounds in Russia. This is the story so far of a remarkable project to save a species and the educational work the RSPB is doing in China - one of their most important wintering grounds - to protect the coastal mudflats it needs to survive.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.Making Your Nature Count and seaside rock pools
Posted: August 2011Garden birds have had a good breeding season. We know that because the thousands of responses to this year's Make Your Nature Count survey have now been analyzed. On this edition of Nature's Voice Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Richard Bashford about the results. And we investigate the simple pleasure of that timeless summer holiday pastime - exploring seaside rock pools with the help of a discarded Pringles box!
An audio podcast in MP3 format.The Nature of Farming Awards 2011
Posted: July 2011The RSPB Telegraph Nature of Farming Awards celebrate the work farmers do for wildlife. In this episode of Nature's Voice the RSPB's Heather Griffiths visits one of this year's regional winners Robert Kynaston. Plus we hear how South West regional winner David White risked the wrath of the gardener to help out the swifts and swallows.
The judging panel will chose 4 of the 8 regional winners to go forward to a public vote to decide this year's overall winner who will receive £1000. Voting opens on July 22nd - either on the RSPB wesbite or by calling 0870 601 0215 - calls from BT land lines are charged at standard rate, other networks may vary. If you vote you will also be entered into a draw with the chance of winning a luxury weekend break for two.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.Bempton Gannets and the Marine Wildlife Pledge
Posted: June 2011How do you put a satellite tag on a Gannet? Research at the RSPB's Bempton Cliffs reserve in North Yorkshire meant staff there needed to do just that. Jane Markham asks Steve Race, community education officer at Bempton, how it was done and what they hope to find out from the data that is being collected. Plus step up for nature by signing the RSPB's Marine Pledge to call for marine conservation reserves to benefit the seabirds around our coast.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.Springwatch's new home at RSPB Ynys-hir
Posted: May 2011BBC Springwatch's new home is at the RSPB's Ynys-hir reserve near Aberystwyth. From May 30th Kate, Chris and Martin will be broadcasting from a converted tractor shed on the site. In this episode of Nature's Voice we visit Ynys-hir in the run up to Springwatch and Jane Markham talks to David Trotman from RSPB Cymru - who is delighted that the BBC are coming to a Welsh reserve in the year the RSPB is celebrating its centenary in the principality.
An audio podcast in MP3 format.
Links
Review the full list of podcast channels in our sciences category of the directory, covering astronomy, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, physics and mathematics.
Whilst all the podcasts listed in this directory are selected in line with our criteria, we do strongly recommend educators that the contents of all podcasts, podcast feeds and channels are regularly auditioned to ensure that they are suitable and appropriate for the age range of the children and young people.
Thursday, 17th May 2012
