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PODCAST

The Birdy Bug Pod

Matthew and Steve

Just a father and son who are passionate about wildlife, photography and the environment. Grab a coffee and join us as we chat about threatened species and habitats, 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.

science nature

All Episodes

62:58

Inspired by Jane Goodall's book of hope

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2024/04/16

Every time we discuss a struggling species or an environmental issue that needs overcoming, we try to finish the chat with some hope. Highlighting the incredible work of tirelessly dedicated people who are out there trying to make a difference.Hope is essential if we are to overcome the monumental challenges facing nature and our planet, a sentiment that is at the heart of Dr Jane Goodall's inspiring book of hope.So, join us for an uplifting episode as we delve into the four reasons that give her

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49:24

Krill: The unsung heroes of the ocean

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2024/03/26

They mitigate the impacts of climate change, support a plethora of species (including the largest animals on earth), and are often called the linchpin of the Antarctic. Krill may be small, but they are massively important.Grab a coffee and join us as we dive into the frosty waters of the Antarctic and explore just how and why these small crustaceans are so vital and the worrying challenges they are facing.We were blown away during our research by what we learnt about krill and of course concerned

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41:36

The worrying decline of the magnificent albatross

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2024/03/05

With their mind-boggling wingspans and entrancing mating rituals, albatrosses are certainly birds with some charisma. However, facing a variety of pressures, these majestic birds are in decline, an issue that can be all too easily missed due to their remote oceanic lifestyle.So, grab a drink and join us for a chilled episode where we delve into the challenges facing these remarkable birds, featuring some different issues from the usual suspects. We of course also shine a light on the promising

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87:25

Our first guest: Sumatra with Josh Phangurha

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2024/02/20

Zoologist, ecologist, wildlife photographer, and very well-travelled, we've mentioned Josh in a few previous episodes, it was about time we had him on!Not long back from 5 weeks in the jungles of Sumatra, we delve into his experience, covering the incredible species he saw, the challenges facing both wildlife and conservationists, some good signs of ecotourism, and what would be great to see going forward. And, in true Birdy Bug Pod fashion, we hear about some of the passionate and dedicated people

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54:03

Ecotourism: Does it work?

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2024/02/06

Join us as we delve into the world of ecotourism, exploring what it is and whether or not it achieves its goal of providing a way to travel that benefits nature, the planet, and people. We look how ecotourism differs from other forms of "green" travel, the potential benefits and pitfalls, and examples of it done well and when it misses the mark. Looking for your next ecotourism/sustainable holiday? Make sure to stick around until the end for a list of a few particularly green destinations and tips

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44:51

The UK's fastest declining bird

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2024/01/23

Discover the story of the turtle dove, a symbol of peace and love, facing a staggering 99% decline in the UK since the 1970s.Join us as we examine the complex issues besieging this wonderful bird, whilst also addressing pressing questions such as "what is the difference between a pigeon and a dove?" And "what on earth is pigeon milk?"It's not all doom and gloom, as we of course shine a spotlight on the remarkable efforts of dedicated organisations working hard to halt the decline and revive our

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58:43

2023: Positive nature news from around the world

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2024/01/02

Join us for a break from all the negative news and enjoy an hour of uplifting stories and a reminder that people everywhere are working incredibly hard for nature.This episode we are bringing you a collection of fantastic stories highlighting the remarkable work being done across the globe to conserve wildlife, protect nature, and look after the planet.Connecting fragmented habitats, fighting poaching, creating protected areas, addressing deforestation, and much, much more! We had a great time

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49:40

What's in the bag?

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/12/05

Join us as we take a dive into our camera bags and chat about what bits of kit we use, from cameras and lenses to handy little accessories. We reveal our niche nerdiness as we get excited about tripod heads and camera straps, learn what weird thing is always in Matthew's camera bag, and we dream a little about our ideal set-ups.This was a fun, lighthearted chat that we thoroughly enjoyed recording and hope you enjoy listening to. Think it is safe to say that our love of camera gear shines through

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62:26

Carbon pawprints

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/11/14

From going plastic free to taking shorter showers, many of us look for ways we can reduce our impact on the planet and yet, so often we overlook the carbon pawprints of our cats and dogs.As two people who love their cats, we set out to learn just how we can all reduce the impact our fury friends have on the planet.We were surprised by some of the facts and figures we found during our research and discovered several eco-friendly tactics we intend to start implementing ourselves.Contact:As always,

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60:51

The best wildlife spots in the UK

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/10/24

... 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.We would love to know about your favourite wildlife spots and if you have been to any of ours. Let us know by pinging us a message on Instagram (details below).Contact:As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions,

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66:58

The interesting world of invasive species

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/10/03

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.Contact:As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions,

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58:53

The toadally awesome natterjack

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/09/19

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

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56:48

Batty about bats

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/08/29

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

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44:03

Ode to a nightingale

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/08/08

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

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61:18

An introduction to reintroductions

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/07/18

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

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52:10

The natural world of Croatia

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/07/04

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

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52:16

An eel-y important episode

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/06/06

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

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40:47

Stabilising the stag beetle

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/05/23

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.Contact:As always, please do feel free to get

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41:22

Why swifts need our help. Swiftly!

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/05/09

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.Contact:As always, please do

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42:35

Appreciating Adders

The Birdy Bug Pod ·

2023/04/25

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.Contact:Please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or

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