PodcastThe Birdy Bug Pod |
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I have, very proudly, started a podcast with my son who also runs a website called MAW Science and the macro photography IG page, A BUG IN THE LENS. You can listen to it here or on any of the main podcast platforms like Spotify, Amazon and Apple if you prefer.
We are passionate about wildlife, photography and the environment. Grab a coffee and join us as we chat about doing our bit for the planet, interesting news stories and the incredible work being done around the world that gives us hope. Oh, and we'll probably have a good natter about our photographic escapades from time to time too.
Episode 1
Rewilding your garden
In this first ever episode of the birdy bug pod, we chat about rewilding and how you can use a garden of any size to create a little wild spot. We look at the daunting state of the UK's wild areas but also the incredible speed at which nature can bounce back and how we can all take part in creating spaces that benefit wildlife and the planet.
Episode 2
A call for the curlew
The humble curlew is in trouble with huge population declines over the last few decades and existing populations struggling. Despite being one of our most pressing conservation issues, it is not one that we were aware of until recently.
So join us as we chat about why we love these stunning birds, what has caused their decline, and the incredible work being done to help them.
So join us as we chat about why we love these stunning birds, what has caused their decline, and the incredible work being done to help them.
Episode 3
The surprising impact of coffee
Coffee. We love it, we are dependent on it, we consume a lot of it! Unfortunately, with that consumption comes an inevitable environmental impact.
So grab a cup of, well coffee, and join us as we look into how our coffee habits impact the planet. But it's not all bad, we also discuss the best ways we can each minimise our footprint whilst still enjoying a delicious cup of coffee.
So grab a cup of, well coffee, and join us as we look into how our coffee habits impact the planet. But it's not all bad, we also discuss the best ways we can each minimise our footprint whilst still enjoying a delicious cup of coffee.
Episode 4
Litter is rubbish
Litter is just rubbish! We all know that it looks bad and ends up in our oceans, but how else does it impact our ecosystems and the environment?
Grab a coffee and join us as we look into the variety of issues surrounding litter. From threatening some of our smallest mammals to altering the chemistry of our waterways.
But as always, it's not all doom and gloom, we find hope in the brilliant work being done by fantastic individuals/organisations, and even look at how we can all make a difference.
Grab a coffee and join us as we look into the variety of issues surrounding litter. From threatening some of our smallest mammals to altering the chemistry of our waterways.
But as always, it's not all doom and gloom, we find hope in the brilliant work being done by fantastic individuals/organisations, and even look at how we can all make a difference.
Episode 5
Tackling wildlife myths
Will a false widow bite make your arm fall off? Does badger culling stop the spread of TB? Are beavers bad for fish?
Grab a cup of coffee and join us as we tackle these questions and more, busting common myths, misinformation, and general media nonsense around our wildlife.
Grab a cup of coffee and join us as we tackle these questions and more, busting common myths, misinformation, and general media nonsense around our wildlife.
Episode 6
Help the humble hedgehog
The hedgehog, an endearing, instantly recognisable, snuffling ball of spikes. Once a common sight in UK gardens, their populations have declined over the last few decades. But it's not all bad news, whilst some populations continue to struggle, others are stabilising.
So grab a coffee and join us for a little chat about what has caused our hedgehogs to decline, what work is being done to help them, and how we can all make their lives a little easier.
So grab a coffee and join us for a little chat about what has caused our hedgehogs to decline, what work is being done to help them, and how we can all make their lives a little easier.
Episode 7
Photography:A shared passion
How did our passion for photography start? Why did one of us end up focusing on birds and the other on bugs? Grab a coffee and join us for a relaxed chat as we answer these questions and more. Learn why we love this hobby, some of the places it has taken us and how this shared passion ties into our love for wildlife, conservation, and the environment.
We hope you enjoy this slightly different kind of episode and come out of it feeling like you know us a little better.
We hope you enjoy this slightly different kind of episode and come out of it feeling like you know us a little better.
Episode 8
For the love of peat
This week is all about bogs and the peat that forms them. Despite only covering a small percentage of the world's terrestrial space, saving peatlands is essential for combating climate change.
So, grab a coffee and join us as we chat about what makes peat such a valuable environmental resource, how we use it, and what we can all do to save our peatlands.
So, grab a coffee and join us as we chat about what makes peat such a valuable environmental resource, how we use it, and what we can all do to save our peatlands.
Episode 9
Positive nature news
There is no better way to start the new year than with a collection of positive nature news stories! Following a short hiatus due to illness over Christmas, we are ending 2022 and kicking off 2023 on a positive note.
From species that that flourished last year to successful rewilding projects, we have got the lot! So, grab a coffee and join us for our first episode of the year.
From species that that flourished last year to successful rewilding projects, we have got the lot! So, grab a coffee and join us for our first episode of the year.
Episode 10
Our 10th episode!
Our little podcast has made it to 10 episodes! To mark the occasion, we have an episode filled with all manner of things centered around the number 10.
From 10 facts about ourselves to 10 conservation/environmental goals we would like to see happen in the next 10 years. From 10 interesting bird/bug facts to 10 places we would like to visit for wildlife. We even have quiz questions for which we have 10 seconds to answer, sprinkled throughout!
So grab a coffee and join us for this light-hearted, at times serious and at times daft, episode. This was a particularly fun one to make, so we hope you enjoy listening!
From 10 facts about ourselves to 10 conservation/environmental goals we would like to see happen in the next 10 years. From 10 interesting bird/bug facts to 10 places we would like to visit for wildlife. We even have quiz questions for which we have 10 seconds to answer, sprinkled throughout!
So grab a coffee and join us for this light-hearted, at times serious and at times daft, episode. This was a particularly fun one to make, so we hope you enjoy listening!
Episode 11
Remarkable seagrass
This episode we are chatting all things seagrass! Sometimes called "the most important habitat that no one has heard of" we wanted to shine some light on this incredible plant.
So, grab a coffee and join us as we learn about what makes seagrass so incredible both ecologically and environmentally, why we have lost 90% of our seagrass meadows in the UK, and what is being done to restore this remarkable habitat!
So, grab a coffee and join us as we learn about what makes seagrass so incredible both ecologically and environmentally, why we have lost 90% of our seagrass meadows in the UK, and what is being done to restore this remarkable habitat!
Episode 12
The UK's fastest declining mammal
Water voles were once common across the UK, however their populations have plummeted by 97% since the 1970s. As our fastest declining mammal, they are now a rare sight.
Grab a coffee and settle in as we look at what happened to our water voles to cause such a dramatic decline. Of course, we also shine some light on the incredible work being done to help bring their numbers back up!
Grab a coffee and settle in as we look at what happened to our water voles to cause such a dramatic decline. Of course, we also shine some light on the incredible work being done to help bring their numbers back up!
Episode 13
SustainabiliTEA
We've done coffee, now we are tackling tea! The second most consumed drink after water, this week we are delving into the sustainability of tea. So, grab a cuppa and join us as we learn what tea really is, whether there are environmental issues with its production, and of course, what we can do to reduce the impact of our tea habits.
Episode 14
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.
Episode 15
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.
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.
Episode 16
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.
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.
Episode 17
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.
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.
Episode 18
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.
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.
Episode 19
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!
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!
Episode 20
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.
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.
Episode 21
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.
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.
Episode 22
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!
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!
Episode 23
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.
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.
Episode 24
The interesting world of invasive species
Invasive non-native species. What are they and what problems do they cause? How do we combat them and control them? What can we all do to help?
We look at all of these questions and more as we delve into the fascinating world of invasive species. From remarkably resilient plants to duck hybridisations, this episode has the lot.
A huge topic, that we thoroughly enjoyed researching and we hope you enjoy listening.
We look at all of these questions and more as we delve into the fascinating world of invasive species. From remarkably resilient plants to duck hybridisations, this episode has the lot.
A huge topic, that we thoroughly enjoyed researching and we hope you enjoy listening.
Episode 25
The best wildlife spots in the UK
... that we've been to so far.
Grab a brew and join us for this chilled chat about some of our favourite nature reserves and wildlife spots. Places where we've seen some of our favourite species, taken our best photos, and had the most memorable moments.
Grab a brew and join us for this chilled chat about some of our favourite nature reserves and wildlife spots. Places where we've seen some of our favourite species, taken our best photos, and had the most memorable moments.