Nature's Voice

The Rio+20 Earth Summit may not have seen a giant leap forward for the environment, but as the RSPB's Sacha Cleminson tells Jane Markham on this edition of the Nature's Voice, it has perhaps nudged the agenda forward.  We also assess a new report calling for a woodland culture for the 21st century to restore our ailing woodlands. And why not step up for nature and create a woodland glade in your garden - even if it's tiny!

The Rio+20 Earth Summit in late June will focus on sustainable development. In this episode of Nature's Voice we look at the RSPB's work in the Gola Rainforest of Sierra Leone which employs local people to conserve the forest while improving their lives.  It's an illustration of sustainable development at work and we investigate a project in the forest to electronically tag one of the elusive and endangered pygmy hippos who live there. The task is to gather vital information to help them survive....but first they have to catch one. 

Chris Packham and the BBC Springwatch team return to the RSPB's Ynys-hir reserve at the end of May. On this month's Nature's Voice (our 60th edition) Jane Markham finds out how the preparations are going from the warden there, Russell Jones, and catches up with TV presenter Iolo Williams whose knowledge of wildlife in Wales is second to none. We also preview Make Your Nature Count - the RSPB's summer survey with ambitions to rival the Big Garden Birdwatch!

After one of the wettest Aprils on record  East Anglia, the South East, parts of Yorkshire, the Midlands and the South West are still officially in drought.  In this edition of Nature's Voice Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Andre Farrar about why this rain hasn't eased the drought, what it means for wildlife and how water shortages could be avoided in future. Plus there are some ideas of how you can step up for nature by saving water. 

The Big Garden Birdwatch results have been published and although starlings remain the second most commonly spotted bird in our gardens there has been a further worrying decline in their numbers.  Their population is down 79 per cent since the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979. In this episode of Nature’s Voice Jane Markham talks to RSPB scientist Dave Buckingham about why this might be happening and to Liberty Smith – one of the film makers behind a phenomenally successful YouTube video recording their chance encounter with a dramatic murmuration of starlings while they were canoeing in Ireland.

Proposals to build an airport on the north Kent marshes are in the news once again. In this episode of Nature's Voice the RSPB's Rolf Williams, who is based at RSPB Northward Hill, talks to local people about what a new transport hub on the Thames Estuary would mean for them. The marshes are a wetland habitat that is recognised as being of international importance for wildlife and we hear the RSPB conservation director Martin Harper's response in the light of previous threats to the area. There are also details about how you can make your voice heard about the plans.

Which bird's call sounds like a bored football fan chanting United, United, United - and is one of the newest arrivals in the UK to feature in the Big Garden Birdwatch top ten? This edition of Nature's Voice will have the answer to that. Plus Jane Markham talks to RSPB staff in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales on the look out for regional variations and interests when it comes to this year's count. These range from the flashy goldfinch to the chubby nuthatch. 

In this, extended edition, of Nature's Voice we look ahead to 2012. With gloomy predictions for the state of the economy we discuss at the implications for the environment. We're also tying up some of the loose ends from 2011. Did the spoon-billed sandpiper chicks make it to the UK? When will the government honour its promise to create protected areas at sea and who won the Nature of Farming Awards? Jane Markham is joined at RSPB headquarters by Andre Farrar, Sharon Thompson and Kathryn Smith to provide some answers. 

India's vulture population has been devastated over the last 20 years. Ninety nine per cent of one species has been wiped out. We look at why this has happened and, four years after we first featured the subject on the Nature's Voice podcast, we chart progress towards bringing them back from the brink of extinction. Jane Markham also talks to the head of the RSPB's tropical forest unit about the continuing loss of rain forests around the world and initiatives to make the trees more valuable standing than they are as logs. Plus stepping up for nature by investing in solar panels for our homes. 

Dave Lamb, of Come Dine with Me fame, lends his voice to this year's RSPB Feed the Birds Day. On this month's podcast we look at some innovative ways of feeding our  garden birds as halloween  approaches and talk to some Nature's Voice Facebookers about how they look after the birds and other wildlife in their gardens. Plus details of how you can win a fabulous Feed the Birds Day kit including a nest box, bird feeders, seed, a pocket book of birds and a cuddly toy!  

The spoon-billed sandpiper is in danger of becoming extinct. The population of this tiny and charming wading bird is crashing by more than a quarter each year.  There are now fewer than 300 birds left. They've never been bred in captivity before but because they are so endangered an urgent rescue operation was started earlier this year. 20 eggs were collected from some of the few remaining pairs on their breeding grounds in Russia. This is the story so far of a remarkable project to save a species and the educational work the RSPB is doing in China  - one of their most important wintering grounds - to protect the coastal mudflats it needs to survive.  

Garden birds have had a good breeding season. We know that because the thousands of responses to this year's Make Your Nature Count survey have now been analyzed. On this edition of Nature's Voice Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Richard Bashford about the results. And we investigate the simple pleasure of that timeless summer holiday pastime  - exploring seaside rock pools with the help of a discarded Pringles box!

The RSPB Telegraph Nature of Farming Awards celebrate the work farmers do for wildlife. In this episode of Nature's Voice the RSPB's Heather Griffiths visits one of this year's regional winners Robert Kynaston. Plus we hear how South West regional winner David White risked the wrath of the gardener to help out the swifts and swallows.    The judging panel will chose 4 of the 8 regional winners to go forward to a public vote to decide this year's overall winner who will receive £1000. Voting opens on July 22nd - either on the RSPB website or by calling 0870 601 0215 - calls from  BT land lines are charged at standard rate, other networks may vary. If you vote you will also be entered into a draw with the chance of winning a luxury weekend break for two. 

How do you put a satellite tag on a Gannet? Research at the RSPB's Bempton Cliffs reserve in North Yorkshire meant staff there needed to do just that. Jane Markham asks Steve Race, community education officer at Bempton, how it was done and what they hope to find out from the data that is being collected. Plus step up for nature by signing the RSPB's Marine Pledge to call for marine conservation reserves to benefit the seabirds around our coast. 

BBC Springwatch's new home is at the RSPB's Ynys-hir reserve near Aberystwyth. From May 30th Kate, Chris and Martin will be broadcasting from a converted tractor shed on the site. In this episode of Nature's Voice we visit Ynys-hir in the run up to Springwatch and Jane Markham talks to David Trotman from RSPB Cymru - who is delighted that the BBC are coming to a Welsh reserve in the year the RSPB is celebrating its centenary in the principality.

The RSPB's reserve at Arne on the Dorset coast boasts all six of the UK's reptiles. On this podcast meet the season's first baby smooth snake with Rob Farrington and Paul Morton who work there and have many more than six good reasons to join them on the reserve.We hear from members at the volunteers weekend about what they'll be doing to take part in the Stepping Up For Nature campaign. And this month's Nature's Voice will also be available for the first time on YouTube so if you want to see what Rob, Paul or the smooth snake look like you can take a look - http://youtu.be/B6FGtJ3uqCw! 

Kate Humble tells us how she is ‘Stepping Up For Nature’ as part of the RSPB’s latest campaign.  As RSPB President, she was at the launch of the project and this month’s Natures Voice looks at how you too can step up to help wildlife and the environment. Also this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch results are in and Mark Eaton, one the RSPB’s scientists, discusses them with Jane Markham.  Despite the cold winter there is some good news for some of our smaller birds. 

The plant and animal kingdoms are starting to wake up to spring. In this podcast we look at some fascinating mating rituals of birds, animals and even trees. The humble hazel is one of the first trees to brighten the hedgerows at this time of year, we'll find out why. And we look at the most graceful spring time double act - the ritual courtship dance of great crested grebes. Plus our Great Moment with Nature is a close encounter with one of Britain's favourite mammals. 

Facebook followers of the RSPB Love Nature pages tell us where they'll be doing their Big Garden Birdwatch this year. We also hear of a new partnership between the RSPB and BUPA  Care Homes to bring nature into their gardens and into the lives of their residents. Plus the busiest woman at the RSPB this month,Big Garden Birdwatch co-ordinator Heather Griffiths, chooses her Great Moment with Nature. 

Surfin' Bird for Christmas number one!  What has the RSPB's director of conservation Mark Avery got to do with the campaign for Bird is the Word to beat the X Factor to the top of the festive pops? We also hear about the 'new bird on the block' when it comes to Mistletoe - Jane Markham talks to a man who knows everything there is to know about this festive plant. Plus who has knocked the robin off the Christmas card number one in the RSPB shop?