As spring arrives, the skies begin to shift. Birds are on the move—and their journeys tell us what’s changing around us.

To take a closer look (and listen) Sean is joined in his garden by artist, comedian and keen birder, Jim Moir and ornithologist and environmentalist Dr Mya-Rose Craig.

From the return of the chiffchaff to deeper conversations around conservation, this episode explores the ties between birds, the places they pass through, and the people who care for them including our resident beatboxer and nature sound artist Jason Singh, zoologist and conservationist Megan McCubbin and nature writer Lucy Lapwing, author of Love Is a Toad.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

This is a Get Birding Production.

“Love Is A Toad: Exploring our relationship with nature” by Lucy Lapwing is available for pre-order now.

The podcast is made in collaboration with Forest Holidays, which encourages birdwatching as part of their guests’ stays, with nature sensitive cabins available in 13 incredible locations across the UK. Use the code GETBIRDING26 when booking, for £40 off a 3-night break or £60 off a 4 or 7 night break. The code expires on 30 June 2026 and is for breaks bookable until 1 October 2026.

To find out more, visit www.forestholidays.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spring’s on the turn, and the birds are getting busy.

From the surprisingly wild love life of the dunnock to bowing and puffed-up chests on city balconies — we explore what courtship really looks like in the bird world.

We’ll also get practical about nestboxes — where to put them, who they’re for, and how even a balcony can help the next generation fledge. With expert advice from the RSPB, we look at the small changes that can make a real difference as breeding season begins.

Sean will be joined by ornithologist and environmentalist Dr Mya-Rose Craig with guests including Lucy Lapwing on her coastal patch, City Girl in Nature in South East London, comedian Toussaint Douglass making the case for our feathered city-dwelling friends, and Jason Singh on the unmistakable rhythm of the wood pigeon.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

This is a Get Birding Production.

The RSPB Guide to Nestboxes

Toussaint Douglass: Accessible Pigeon Material runs from Thu 26 – Sat 28 Mar 26 at the Soho Theatre, London.

“Love Is A Toad: Exploring our relationship with nature” by Lucy Lapwing is available for pre-order now.

The podcast is made in collaboration with Forest Holidays, which encourages birdwatching as part of their guests’ stays, with nature sensitive cabins available in 13 incredible locations across the UK. Use the code GETBIRDING26 when booking, for £40 off a 3-night break or £60 off a 4 or 7 night break. The code expires on 30 June 2026 and is for breaks bookable until 1 October 2026.

To find out more, visit www.forestholidays.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Sean Bean swaps the perfectly pruned for the beautifully wild, discovering how ponds, hedgerows and a little untidiness can transform your garden into a haven for wildlife.

Along the way he's joined by broadcast legends and keen gardeners Zoë Ball and Jo While, ornithologist and environmentalist Dr Mya-Rose Craig, and NHS doctor and RSPB President Dr Amir Khan to explore why “messy” gardens are better for birds — and for our own heads too.

We head to the Forest of Dean with a Forest Holidays ranger, hear from our resident beatboxer and nature sound artist Jason Singh on the great mimics of the sky, and dig into the science behind starling murmurations with Professor Anne Goodenough and artist Steve Geliot — exploring how these vast winter gatherings can lift us through life’s hardest moments.

Follow Get Birding on Instagram.

This episode was produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

This is a Get Birding Production.

The podcast is made in collaboration with Forest Holidays, which encourages birdwatching as part of their guests’ stays, with nature sensitive cabins available in 13 incredible locations across the UK. Use the code GETBIRDING26 when booking, for £40 off a 3-night break or £60 off a 4 or 7 night break. The code expires on 30 June 2026 and is for breaks bookable until 1 October 2026.

To find out more, visit www.forestholidays.co.uk

An open access publication on starling murmurations (using citizen science) by Professor Anne Goodenough is available here https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0179277

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.