For over a hundred years no one thought too much about the origins of the RSPB, but among its founders was a woman in Didsbury opposed to the use of feathers in fashionable hats. Emily Williamson was outraged by the widespread slaughter of egrets and the crested grebe. She had tried to join the all-male British Ornithological Union, and when that failed she established her own Society for the Protection of Birds.
Nominating Emily is Hannah Bourne-Taylor, author of Fledgling and Nature Needs You, which is about her own campaign for the introduction of swift bricks into all new buildings. Helping Hannah discover more about this little known life is author Tessa Boase, who discovered Emily's role; plus Beccy Speight the current head of the RSPB. Matthew Parris presents.
The producer in Bristol for BBC Studios Audio in Miles Warde.
Ominously called the lamb vulture, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding the bearded vulture. Flying the mountainous ranges across central Asia and eastern Africa, with a wingspan of almost three meters, the bearded vulture is am impressive Old World vulture. Prof Ben Garrod and Dr Jess French are looking past the beautifully coloured plumage, and delving deep inside to learn what this bird of prey really eats and what keeps its great wings aloft.
**** This programme was suggested by Philip Lowden as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra's All Request Weekend ****
There are ordinary bird-watchers and there are 'twitchers'.
Each autumn this strange breed descends on the Isles of Scilly in search of their quarry.
Sue Hicks joined last year's migration and discovered that twitchers have their own language and plumage, and are driven by a compulsive urge to 'tick'.
Producer: Andrew Vivian
Recorded Autumn 1984. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1985.
**** To nominate a programme from the archive that you would like to hear again, please email radio4extra@bbc.co.uk ****
Brett Westwood is joined by keen bird watcher, Stephen Moss, on the Devonshire coast.
With the help of wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they offer a practical and entertaining guide to identifying the birds which you're most likely to see and hear on Britain's off-shore islands; birds like Common Eider Duck, Puffin, Manx Shearwater and Arctic Tern.
The last of five programmes helps identify more of the birds found around our British coastline in places like sandy beaches, rocky shores, sea cliffs, off-shore islands and estuaries.
Not only is there advice on how to recognise the birds from their appearance, but also how to identify them from their calls and songs.
Brett Westwood is joined by keen bird watcher, Stephen Moss, on the Devonshire coast.
With the help of wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they offer a practical and entertaining guide to identifying the birds which you're most likely to see and hear on sea cliffs around Britain's coastline; birds like Fulmar, Kittiwake, Guillemot and Razorbill.
This programme helps identify more of the birds found around our British coastline in places like sandy beaches, rocky shores, sea cliffs, off-shore islands and estuaries.
Not only is there advice on how to recognise the birds from their appearance, but also how to identify them from their calls and songs.
Brett Westwood is joined by keen bird watcher, Stephen Moss, on the Devonshire coast.
With the help of wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they offer a practical and entertaining guide to identifying the birds which you're most likely to see and hear on rocky shores around Britain's coastline; birds like Rock Pipit, Turnstone, Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
This programmes helps identify more of the birds found around our British coastline in places like sandy beaches, rocky shores, sea cliffs, off-shore islands and estuaries.
Not only is there advice on how to recognise the birds from their appearance, but also how to identify them from their calls and songs.
Brett Westwood is joined by keen bird watcher, Stephen Moss, on the Devonshire coast.
With the help of wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they offer a practical and entertaining guide to identifying the birds which you're most likely to see and hear on sandy shores around Britain's coastline; birds like Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher.
The programmes helps identify many of the birds found around our British coastline in places like sandy beaches, rocky shores, sea cliffs, off-shore islands and estuaries.
Not only is there advice on how to recognise the birds from their appearance, but also how to identify them from their calls and songs.
