Nature News from RSPB Scotland

In the last of our miniseries on birdsong Stephen is squeezing in a few moorland highlights before heading back to Wood of Cree for a rainy visit. 

Guided again by Crystal Maw he's listening to a mournful thrush and hearing about the bizarre life cycle of a Cuckoo.

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Stephen takes a trip to RSPB Scotland's Wood of Cree nature reserve. With the help of local expert Crystal Maw he hears some of the specialist birds that call this ancient woodland home. There's Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and the stunning song of the Wood Warbler. Crustal also explains how RSPB Scotland looks after this special place.

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In the latest episode of our mini series How to Listen to Birds Stephen is visiting RSPB Scotland’s Baron’s Haugh reserve.

Senior Conservation Officer Toby Wilson is his guide as he encounters the bewildering array of noises a Great Tit can make.

There’s also a chance to focus on one of the sweetest songs in the wood, the Robin. Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs are singing loudly.

Toby also offers his expert take on why birds sing and the risks involved.

Let us know how you're enjoying birdsong [email protected]

Bird ID including song https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/a-z

In Episode 3 of our miniseries How to Listen to Birds Stephen is visiting RSPB Scotland’s Abernethy nature reserve. Assistant Warden Ewan Craig is his guide as they take a walk through the stunning pine forest. There’s noisy Goldcrests making a sound that belies their tiny size. Ewan has an odd way to remember the song of the Chaffinch. And the pair luck out with a pine forest specialist, Crested Tit.

We want to know what you want to hear about in the podcast. Drop us an email [email protected]

There's more about Bird ID including help with birdsong here https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/a-z

Visit Loch Garten
https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/loch-garten-abernethy

Stephen takes a trip to RSPB Scotland's Loch Leven nature reserve.  Site manager Vicky Turnbull and Assistant Warden Darran Dixon are on hand to help him identify what is singing in the woodland.

There's a little bird with a loud voice,  a melodic warbler and a thrush with a complex song.

Stephen also hears about some odd nesting decisions by Blue Tits at the reserve and discovers which bird sounds like a squeaky bike pump.

Let us know what you think about the series and what you've been hearing [email protected]

And don't forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Find out more about Loch Leven nature reserve here https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/loch-leven
Birdsong info on the RSPB website https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/a-z

How to Listen to Birds is a new podcast mini series from RSPB Scotland. Join host Stephen Magee out and about for tips on how to identify birds by their song. He'll also hear from RSPB staff about how the sounds birds make help us understand their lives better. And Stephen will try to understand what it is about birdsong that moves and enthrals us.

In Episode 1 we are at RSPB Scotland's Baron's Haugh reserve with warden David Anderson. He has tips on how to get started with birdsong. We encounter a tiny bird with a big song and David explains you don't need to go deep into the wild to enjoy the sound of birds.

LINKS
Birdsong Beginner video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-qJuNysUsU
David's work with blind and visually impaired people https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfeXEmSgvgk
RSPB Web resources about birdsong and ID generally https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/a-z
Dan Chorus https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/the-dawn-chorus-all-you-need-to-know-about-natures-big-show

It's that time of year again! Big Garden Birdwatch is here. Stephen and Dan Snowdon from RSPB Scotland's Lochwinnoch nature reserve explain how to take part. There are also tips on how to work out what you're seeing out there.

Stephen also travels to Dundee to meet staff and volunteers involved in inspirational work building connections with nature for people living in the city.

More about Big Garden Birdwatch here https://t.co/tC0YFBrsRr

Find out more about our work in Dundee Winter Wildlife in Dundee - Scottish Nature Notes - Our work - The RSPB Community

It's an important time for Scotland's birds of prey as the Scottish Government introduces legislation to license grouse moors in a bid to end raptor persecution.

Raptor persecution - the illegal killing of birds of prey - continues in Scotland and around the UK. In this podcast Stephen meets those working to end this criminality. He hears from RSPB Scotland's Head of Investigations Ian Thomson, Ruth Tingay from the influential Raptor Persecution UK blog and campaigner Chris Packham.

And there's the very latest on what's happening in the Scottish Parliament.

And you can help too by putting pressure on your MSPs to follow through on delivering the legislation.

LINKS
Get in touch with your MSP
https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/scotland/posts/act-now-to-protect-birds-of-prey-and-peatlands


Report an incident
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/how-to-report-crimes-against-wild-birds

As the days shorten wintering ducks, geese and swans are making their way back to Scotland. Stephen is at RSPB Scotland's Loch Leven nature reserve to see some of the birds that make this time of year so special. He's joined by Site Manager Vicky Turnbull and Assistant Warden Darran Dixon to chat about Pintail, Smew and Wigeon.

Stephen also travels to the Slammanan Plateau in search of the UK's rarest goose. Conservation officer Scott Shanks and volunteers Angus Maciver and Billy Thomson help him to find Taiga Bean Geese in fields near Cumbernauld.

LINKS
More about our work on Corncrakes

Cattle on Lewis
https://youtu.be/87RIV7Q4qO8
RSPB Scotland Oronsay nature reserve
https://youtu.be/sMDBUpeVV6E

Let the Scottish Government know you want better legislation to protect and renew nature https://t.co/DjDHX7Zz1V

See the volunteers at Kinnordy in action
https://youtu.be/ulMPni4aiZA

In this special edition of the podcast Stephen is in Orkney to hear about work to protect its special, native wildlife.

Orkney  has its own native Vole species and also hosts globally important populations of seabirds, waders and other species. But that wildlife is under threat from an invasive predator, the Stoat. 

RSPB Scotland is part of a groundbreaking project that has set out to eradicate Stoats and protect native wildlife. Stephen hears from those involved in trapping, monitoring and biosecurity as part of this enormous undertaking.

The Orkney Native Wildlife Project is a partnership between RSPB Scotland, NatureScot and Orkney Islands Council with generous support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and EU LIFE (LIFE17 UK/NAT/000557) as well as in kind and financial contributions from partners. The mop-up methodology trial was supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.