Best of Natural History Radio show

Best of Natural History Radio

Summary: The BBC Natural History Unit produces a wide range of programmes that aim to immerse a listener in the wonder, surprise and importance that nature has to offer.

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Podcasts:

 Shared Planet - Drought in East Africa 2 Dec 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:43

As East Africa gets hotter and drier livestock are increasingly being grazed inside wildlife reserves. Inevitably this leads to predation by big cats. What does the future hold for the pastoralists, wildlife and the say of life of the Samburu? Monty Don explores this increasingly difficult issue with a field report from Samburu where a severe drought is taking its toll. Climate change predictions show that conditions will get worse and wildlife experts discuss the challenges ahead for nature and people.

 NatHistory: Shared Planet - Snapping Turtles 25 Nov 14 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:43

What do elephants, snapping turtles and guillemots have in common? They are all examples of 'long-lived' animals with some species living longer than the careers of the scientists who study them. In this episode of Shared Planet Monty Don talks to Tim Birkhead and Phyllis Lee, both scientists who have studied the behaviour of long-lived species and both argue that you discover insights into long-lived animals can will help their conservation and our ability to share the planet with them. Presented by Monty Don. Produced by Mary Colwell.

 NatHistory: Living World - Whooper Swans - 23 Nov 14 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:31

When freezing temperatures descend on Iceland, majestic whooper swans migrate south to the Highlands of Scotland where they flock together on wet land, whooping musically to one another in high and low tones. The beauty of the whooper swan has long been revered and over the winter months the Insh Marshes Nature Reserve plays host to this spectacular gathering. Living World presenter Trai Anfield and the RSPB's Catherine Vis-Christie take to the marshes to see how these elegant birds are faring after their long journey to Scottish shores. Produced by Tom Bonnett

 NatHistory: Shared Planet - Mangroves 18th Nov 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:32

Mangroves have been destroyed worldwide, we are trying to restore them. Is that possible? Can we really restore nature back to what it once was?

 NatHistory: Living World - Dry Stone Walls 16th Nov 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:34

Mary Colwell travels to White Peak to meet Sarah Henshall, lead ecologist with Buglife and Simon Nicholas, the local Ranger for the National Trust, to discover the 350 million year old limestone that forms the walls and search for the mini beasts that live in their depths.

 Shared Planet - Albatrosses and Fishing 28th Oct 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:54

Albatrosses are giant flying seabirds that inhabit the southern oceans. Many species have been studied intensively over decades on their breeding grounds in the sub-Antarctic and the Pacific. Clever studies involving satellite tracking and simple observations from ships have shown they can disperse and forage across the whole of the southern ocean. Monitoring of their populations has shown a marked decline in their numbers since the 1980's so much so all albatross species are now threatened. A key cause of albatross decline was found quickly after the decline in populations was noticed; long-line fishing hooks baited with squid and floating on the surface after being deployed was an easy meal for an ocean scavenger and often their last. Shared Planet visits this story many years after it broke to report a cautious success on the high level conservation measures that were put in place involving biologists and the fishing industry.

 NatHistory: The Spirit Child 27 Oct 14 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:35

Paul Evans narrates a ghostly tale inspired by the true story of Alice Glaston who was the youngest person to be hung in Tudor England. Starring Bettrys Jones. Produced by Sarah Blunt

 NatHistory: Living World: Nightjars 26 Oct 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:32

Chris Sperring is in Somerset during the last days of summer to find a bird that is one of the first to leave before the autumn. As the light fades a strange whirring sound fills the air and silent masters of flight hawk for moths and other airborne insects. Produced by Ellie Sans

 Shared Planet: Hen Harriers - Trust, 21st Oct 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:50

Hen harriers are persecuted in the British Isles because they eat grouse. Seals cause problems for salmon fishermen; lions eat the livestock of pastoralists in Africa and so on. All over the world there are conflicts between people and wildlife, often with devastating consequences. In Shared Planet this week Monty Don looks at how we are approaching solving these issues, who is taking the bull by the horns and getting people around a table to come up with a shared solution? Conflict resolution is growing area that brings together scientists, local people, businesses, NGOs and many others who are affected by wildlife conflict. It is a demanding task finding a solution that all parties feel they can accept, on a par with the negotiations undertaken with trade unions by ACAS. This new area for conservation brings political and social science to sit alongside traditional conservation ideas. Monty Don investigates.

 Shared Planet - Insects and Lights 14 Oct 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:56

Artificial lighting is ubiquitous in the developed world - but the effects of night time illumination on wildlife are not yet fully understood. While we know that artificial light changes the behaviour of some animals we're still a long way from knowing whether those changes can damage wildlife populations. Monty Don finds out what we do know with particular regard to an important but often overlooked group of animals - insects.

 NatHistory: Shared Planet - Mahogany 7th Oct 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:43

Beautiful and durable, mahogany has been highly prized and traded internationally for centuries. Reaching the impressive height of 60 metres or more they are true giants of the forest. Selective logging of mahogany was unchecked across much of its range until international agreements restricted its trade. But has this been enough? Monty Don finds out more about the big-leaf mahogany and whether we can continue to use its beautiful wood without forfeiting its future.

 NatHistory: Shared Planet - Ocean Plastics - 30 Sep 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:27

Plastic litter has the knack of finding its way into the ocean. Unfortunately this means that seabirds that have, until relatively recently, been safe to assume that the objects floating on the surface are food are getting a stomach full of trash. Shared Planet finds out how bad the situation is for seabirds like the fulmar and the simple things we can do to reduce the problem.

 NatHistory: Shared Planet - Less Wildlife? - 23 Sep 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:55

The diversity and abundance of wildlife is declining across the world. As people grow older they notice the changes but for each new generation the baseline is reset. Is each generation getting used to living with less and less wildlife?

 NatHistory: Gossip From The Garden Pond 21 Sep 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:45

Ep: 3 of 3 In the last of three tales written by Lynne Truss, the Garden Spider (Amanda Root) and the Great Pond Snail (James Fleet) reveal the funny side of life in a garden pond. Producer: Sarah Blunt

 NatHistory: Shared Planet 16 Sep 2014 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:46

Shared Planet - Ground Nesting Birds Ground nesting birds such as terns are particularly vulnerable to being disturbed. People are increasingly accessing the countryside for all sorts of recreation from walking and mountain biking to bird watching and photography. Is disturbance really a problem for wildlife? And how can we limit the effect while still encouraging fun and healthy ways to spend our time. Monty Don asks whether dog walkers and ground nesting seabirds can share the same space and it seems yes, if the birds can make a choice.

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