Get Birding

Hamza was born in Sudan and grew up Northampton before moving to his current home in the west coast of Scotland. He's now surrounded by a plethora of bird life, but this has always been the case. In this episode of Get Birding Hamza explores birding as part of the built environment from how nature can inspire us and be experienced in the most densely populated and built up areas, how we can encour...

In the first episode of series two, our new host - ornithologist and BBC Countryfile’s Hamza Yassin - talks to series one’s presenter, environmental campaigner Dr Mya-Rose Craig, about their shared love of birds. The appearance of a rare black browed albatross this year was one of the hot birding stories of the summer. Hamza speaks to RSPB Bempton Cliffs Visitor Experience Assistant Poppy Rummery...

As lockdown restrictions start to ease, Mya-Rose Craig explores how we can expand our birding horizons from our back gardens and regular walks to further afield, paying a visit to the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust’s Slimbridge reserve in Gloucestershire which will reopen soon. Writer, broadcaster and actress Emma Kennedy explains her love of birding, stork spotting, RSPB Minsmere and blackbirds sin...

The birds in our skies are about to change. Spring marks the start of migration, with birds flying thousands of miles across the world. It's a magical, mysterious wonder of nature that has fascinated us for centuries. In this episode Mya-Rose Craig discovers why bird migration happens; learns about species we can expect to see flying into the UK; and hears from listeners from the Orkneys to E...

During lockdown, we've become more aware of birdsong but can we recognise the birds we're hearing?  In this episode, Mya-Rose Craig explores how to identify different birds, from robins to wrens to blackbirds; why birds sing; what a dawn chorus is all about; and how birdsong makes us feel. Actor and keen birder Samuel West takes time out from filming the new series of All Creatures Great...

This episode focuses on the powerful impact of birds on our mental health, particularly during lockdown.   With heartbreaking honesty, TV’s favourite GP Dr Amir Khan reveals how birds have helped him through the daily stress of working on the front line over the pandemic. Dr Amir explains the science behind nature’s effect on the chemicals in our brains; why he is starting to prescribe n...

Mya-Rose Craig speaks to presenter, comedian and avid birder Susan Calman about her life changing obsession with her garden bird feeder, and how her feathered friends have brought her calm and relaxation. To mark National Nest Box Week, TV doctor and nature ambassador Dr Amir Khan offers practical tips on where to place your nest box, and our Get Birding listeners share advice on how to encou...

Mya-Rose Craig talks to BBC nature presenter Chris Packham about the magic of birdwatching, the need for diversity in nature, his Bird To Watch and the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend - the biggest citizen science project in the UK. Nature beatboxer, composer and sound artist Jason Singh - whose work has featured at the BBC Proms, on Countryfile and the V&A - explains h...

Being in lockdown has unleashed our love for nature. Goats taking ownership of our streets, deer sleeping on town commons, birds and their song reclaiming our soundscape - a full wildlife drama happening every day in our gardens, streets and countryside for us all to watch.  Many of us want to maintain our new found appreciation of this natural life - and birds offer the greatest escape, lite...