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