This week on Bird Brain, we take flight with Archimedes the owl from Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, joined by nature tour guide Nick Patel from Wilder Skies in Somerset.

From the rolling hills of the West Country to the realities of rewilding, we explore what “good” nature really looks like, and why it’s not always the postcard-perfect green landscape we expect. Think messy habitats, brown mulch, and the hidden ecosystems that support birds and insects alike.

We also dive into the truth about little owls in the UK (including why they’re often just… sitting there), their surprising history as an introduced species, and how films like The Sword in the Stone shape our perceptions of wildlife, sometimes for better, sometimes not.

Along the way, we reflect on what being outdoors teaches us, from Nick’s life as a nature guide to Wart’s lessons with Merlin, and revisit the slightly terrifying moment that made a generation wary of Perch.

Book a tour with Nick or explore his monthly wildlife guides that give handy tips on what you can see when: https://www.wilderskies.co.uk
Follow Wilder Skies on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_wilderskies_/

This week we dive into Beavers, via Mr and Mrs Beaver from The Chronicles of Narnia.

I’m joined by Sean McCormack, vet, sometime TV personality and project lead at the Ealing Beaver Project. Together we unpack the things C.S. Lewis got gloriously right and a few of the things he got very wrong (Sean’s incensed by the inclusion of beavers frying fish!).

We explore common misconceptions about beavers, from the myth that they decimate fish populations to the realities of rewilding in urban environments. We also talk practical coexistence, including how to gently manipulate irresponsible dog owners into keeping dogs on leads when beavers are present.

Ultimately, I'm adamant that the Beavers may just be the truest symbol of domesticity, resistance, and hope in the Narnia novels, forget the flashy heroes, and fall in love with these eco engineers.

A thoughtful, funny episode about literature, ecology, and why beavers might be the quiet success story we all need right now.

Find out more about the Ealing Beaver Project here: https://theealingbeaverproject.com

This week on Bird Brain, it’s a festive deep dive into The 12 Days of Christmas with Jon Carter, Media Manager at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

Together we unwrap one of the most familiar Christmas songs and ask a surprising question: what if the twelve gifts weren’t romantic gestures at all, but birds destined for a medieval banquet? 

We also crunch the numbers using the Christmas Price Index to find out what those twelve days would cost today, look ahead to uplifting conservation success stories to watch for in 2026, and yes, there’s even bird-themed jokes and a little singing along the way.

A thoughtful, funny, and hopeful episode for the Christmas period, perfect for bird lovers, history fans, and anyone curious about how culture and nature collide.

Useful links:
🐦 Follow the BTO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btobirds/
🌿 Get involved with the BTO: https://www.bto.org/get-involved
🎁 The PNC Christmas Price Index: https://www.pnc.com/en/about-pnc/topics/pnc-christmas-price-index.html

This week on Bird Brain, I’m joined by Stephen Moss: broadcaster, ornithologist, and author of, among a rather large list, The Robin.

Together, we've done a special Christmas deep dive into Aardman Animations’ Robin Robin.

We explore why the robin is Britain’s most beloved festive bird, how Aardman brings nature to life through stop-motion storytelling, and what the film gets right (and delightfully wrong) about real bird behaviour. We also chat about what a nice man Nick Park is, the science of garden birds at Christmas, and the surprising role pet cats play as predators in our backyards.

If you love wildlife, animation, folklore or just need a dose of cosy seasonal nature chat, this one’s for you!

This week on Bird Brain, I’m joined by Alice Vassallo, zookeeper and host of Asshole Animals with Alice.

Together we talk about Red Lories and Iago. We dig into why Disney’s sharp-tongued parrot is so unforgettable, and which real-life animals might make even better troublemakers. A chat full of colour, chaos, and charismatic villains!

This week on Bird Brain, I’m live from Global Birdfair 2025, joined by ecologist Naomi Davis, my first non-binary guest on the pod!

Together we dive into the iconic flock of chickens from Chicken Run, that stop-motion classic once pitched as “The Great Escape with Chickens.”

We cover everything from the genius of the word “wazzock” and why it matters , to the way internalised misogyny shapes how we read characters like Mac. Along the way, we explore how films like Chicken Run can both reinforce and subvert cultural ideas about birds, gender, and freedom.

If you love your bird chat with a mix of cinema, social insight, and a touch of clay-feathered rebellion, this one’s for you.

Follow Naomi here:

https://www.instagram.com/naturnaomi?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

This week on Bird Brain, I’m joined by ecologist, bird ringer, and rewilding champion Penny Green, fresh from a decade at Knepp and now heading into her next wild chapter on the South Downs.

We’re talking about Green Woodpeckers (also known as yaffles), with a specific focus on Professor Yaffle from Bagpuss. We look at everything, from their role as habitat engineers to their unmistakable laugh.

Penny shares what it’s been like witnessing nature bounce back at Knepp, why unimproved meadows are more vital than ever, and how her new podcast The Wandering Ecologist aims to lift us out of doomscrolling and celebrate what’s working in the world of conservation.

If you like your bird chat with a healthy dose of hope, woodpecker lore, and practical ecology, this one’s for you.

Follow Penny on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sussex_emerald?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=dTVlamx1eHF5dnA=

🎙️ In this episode of Bird Brain, we soar into the vibrant and endangered world of the Spix’s Macaw—the striking blue parrot made famous by Blu in the animated film Rio.

Joining me is Scarlett Hilton—BTO Young Leader, nature poet, and passionate advocate for equitable access to nature.

We discuss:
🦜 Rio and the real-life story behind Blu
🌵 The caatinga biome – What makes this dry forest ecosystem so vital for macaws
⚖️ Poaching and pet ownership – From international trafficking to Minnesota’s bizarre exotic pet laws
🎧 Bioacoustic monitoring – How sound is helping track and protect endangered birds
📚 The Falcon Thief – A gripping read on wildlife crime, recommended by Scarlett

Scarlett also shares her thoughts on the role of storytelling, poetry, and youth engagement in bird conservation.

Check out these links:
🔗 The Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer – Waterstones
🔗 Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP)
🔗 Chico Mendes Institute, Brazil
🔗 Can you own any exotic animals in Minnesota? – The Environmental Literacy Council

Bonus Beasts: Iorek Byrnison, from the His Dark Materials trilogy.

This episode isn’t just about polar bears. It’s about what happens when you’re stripped of your purpose — and how, for some people, recovery means forging a new kind of armour. To explore that, I’m joined by psychiatrist and trauma specialist Dr Mathew Hoskins — who’s worked on cutting-edge therapies for PTSD, including MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

Today we’re asking: what can a fictional bear teach us about real psychological healing?

In this episode of Bird Brain, we take flight into the world of geese in literature, folklore, and nature with Liliana Tarrant Snedden—President of the Cardiff University Ornithological Society and BTO Youth Rep.

We discuss:
Kaisa the daemon – Exploring how Philip Pullman's choice of a Snow Goose for a witch’s familiar in His Dark Materials is subverting the usual image of a witch’s bird, often linked to corvids or birds of prey.
📜 Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese 

🧬 Genetic diversity – Why it’s crucial for species survival and conservation.

Liliana also shares how young birdwatchers can get free birding equipment to level up their skills! Check out these links:
🔗 BTO Equipment Scheme: Access free birdwatching kit
🔗 BTO Youth Reps: Find out more
🔗 Follow Liliana on Instagram: @liliana.rts

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#Birdwatching #HisDarkMaterials #Geese #WildlifeConservation #PhilipPullman #DaemonTheory