Pigeons! They're everywhere, but often overlooked and definitely unfairly labelled. Known to some as "rats with wings," pigeons have gained a reputation as pesky, unintelligent city dwellers—but that's far from the full story.

In this episode, we’re giving pigeons the love and respect they deserve. We bust the biggest myths surrounding these birds, explore their fascinating history, and reveal just how intelligent and resourceful they really are. From acing complex intelligence tests to performing life-saving acts of heroism during the world wars, pigeons have a lot more going for them than you might think.

We've got a pigeon quiz, answers to pressing questions like, "Why do they bob their heads when they walk?" and much more! We hope his episode will have you looking at pigeons in a whole new light.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up and introduction

00:04:31 Get to know the pigeon

00:18:32 Pigeons throughout history

00:28:55 Intelligence & navigation

00:38:53 Impact on culture & science

00:42:31 General pigeon appreciation

00:45:55 Pigeon threats

00:49:10 Wrap up

Get in touch

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links

Secret World of Pigeons Timeline (cbc.ca)

Whose coos are whose? The five types of pigeon you’ll see in Britain - Country Life

BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 in Four - The pigeon: Britain’s most misunderstood bird?

Pigeons Are Secretly Brilliant Birds That Understand Space and Time, Study Finds | Mental Floss

How homing pigeons find their way home - BirdWatching (birdwatchingdaily.com)

What's Up With That: Birds Bob Their Heads When They Walk | WIRED

One of the UK's rarest spiders is coming back from the brink of extinction thanks to a brilliant conservation effort.

Large, scarce, and undeniably striking, the fen raft spider is one of only three British spider species on the Red List and vulnerable to extinction.

But there is good news! A dedicated collaboration of organisations has been working hard to restore our valuable fen habitats and the raft spiders that rely so heavily on them, and the results are promising.

So, grab a coffee, sit back, and join us as we explore the incredible world of the fen raft spider. We uncover fascinating facts about their water-based lifestyle, from running across the surface to diving beneath it, and take a closer look at the conservation success story that’s giving these spiders a fighting chance for survival.

Get in touch!

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro & catchup

00:07:02 All about raft spiders

00:23:38 Habitat decline & the importance of fens

00:31:47 Conservation & good news

00:45:48 Wrap up

Links:

https://www.dolomedes.org.uk/biology/life_history

https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-directory/fen-raft-spider/

https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/blog/suffolk-wildlife-trust/10-facts-about-fen-raft-spiders#:~:text=Fen raft

https://www.britishwildlife.com/article/article-volume-32-number-2-page-98-109/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320700000306

https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetlands/fens/

Raft spiders (britishspiders.org.uk)

Our humble hedgerows. They may seem ordinary and easy to overlook as they border our gardens and fields and crisscross our landscape, but they are in fact one of our most vital habitats. Yet sadly, our hedges have seen a decline in both abundance and health.

In this episode, we uncover the incredible benefits of healthy hedgerows—from providing shelter to countless species to boosting farm productivity and even combating climate change.

So, grab a drink, get comfortable, and join us as we delve into the fascinating world of hedgerows. We explore their importance, cultural significance, how we have lost so many of them, and what can be done to restore our hedges to the benefit of our communities and nature.

Get in touch!

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links:

https://www.cpre.org.uk/discover/hedgerow-wildlife-to-hear-and-see/

https://ptes.org/hedgerow/hedgerow-wildlife/

https://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/news/2024/may/new-hedgerow-regulations-what-you-need-to-know/

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/habitats/hedgerows/

https://hedgelink.org.uk/

How to manage a hedgerow for wildlife | The Wildlife Trusts

https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/hedgerow-protections-reinstated-in-england

https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/the-great-british-hedgerow-survey