Episodes
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The next episode in the Global BirdFair Series, join Tom Morath as he chats to Jenny Weston (Senior Species Recovery Officer for the RSPB) about what it takes to support endangered species of birds, what it’s like to monitor wild bird of prey populations and the recovery of the Red Kite. This episode was recorded LIVE at the Global BirdFair - a not-for-profit festival with an aim to bring bird-lovers and conservationists alike together for a celebration of wildlife and especially birds.
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This month, Tom Morath brings you a very special episode of Nature's a Hoot - recorded LIVE at the Global BirdFair! Join Tom at this celebration of all things feathered, where he'll be chatting to Katy Monk and returning Nature’s a Hoot Guest Indy Greene about their experiences in conservation as young people, their epic challenge to walk from Land’s End to John O’ Groats to raise funds for wildlife and, of course, the birds of prey that inspire them.
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In the furthest eastern reaches of Siberia, across the remote rocky seacoast and rivers and around the Islands you can find one of the largest species of eagle in the world –Steller’s Sea Eagle. Join Tom as he discovers more about this huge eagle and catches up with James Knight from the Bird Team at the Trust about his journey whilst training Kiara, a brand new addition to our flying team.
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Nicknamed the ‘wolves of the sky’, the Harris’ Hawk is able to collaborate to secure a meal and to boost their chances of evading predators – quite unlike other species of birds of prey. They’re sociable, powerful and agile. These hawks primarily prefer hunting territories of arid scrubland and semi-desert and for much of their recent natural history, this would be the best place to find them. But new research is exploring the reasons why Harris’ Hawks are now opting to co-habit with we humans – moving into suburban areas and taking advantage of what this new habitat has to offer when it comes to the hunt.
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They’re one of the world’s most powerful eagles. With their long wingspan and at a bulky 4kg or more, the Martial Eagle is also Africa’s largest, dominating the sky they fly in as they take their place as an apex predator. They’re a truly awesome species. The downside though is that they’re under threat. Join Tom as he talks to South African-based conservation biologist Dr Megan Murgatroyd about the work she’s doing to gather information about the species that could prove invaluable to their survival as a species into the future.
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The African Harrier Hawk is a species of bird of prey withsurprising adaptations - from having a wider visual field to potentially double-jointed legs! Over the last few years, our conservation and research team, alongside scientists from other research institutions have been studying them to find out more. Join Tom as he chats to Dr Simon Poitier about new research being conducted at the Trust, studying resident African Harrier Hawks, Josephine and Baba, and how the study’s findings could be beneficial to the species’ conservation and even helpful in the world of robotic sciences.
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It's no secret, here at the Hawk Conservancy Trust we love talking about birds of prey! But for many species across the world, things are not looking good. It’s arguably never been more important to get excited about nature than it is today. In this episode ofNature's a Hoot, join Tom as he chats to actor, artist and fellow wildlife podcaster David Oakes! Listen all about finding time for nature, tracking golden eagles and how arts and creativity can support conservation.
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The Little Owl is the smallest species of owls in the UK - standing no more than 23cm tall! The Hawk Conservancy Trust has been monitoring and supporting Little Owls through our Raptor Nest Box Project for over 15 years. We’ll hear from Dr Matt Stevens (conservation biologist at the Trust) as he tells us more about this charismatic native species and the work he does to help conserve them.
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Over the vast expanse of water, wind whipping up the salty air onto the land, there are a great many sights and sounds to be heard along our British coastline and over our wetland habitats. This ocean biome is home not only to species of fish and gulls, but also to the largest bird of prey in the UK – the White-tailed Eagle. Join Tom as he chats to Steve Egerton-Read - the White-tailed Eagle Project Officer for Forestry England – about this incredible species.
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Way up in the mountainous slopes, in Europe, Africa and Asia, one of the world’s rarest vultures soars high above the rock and snow in search of a meal. At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve spotted some mythological creature – the orange-tinted feathers and diamond/wedge-shaped tail more akin to stories of dragons than vultures. This time, Tom discovers more about one of the most striking yet endangered vulture species in the world - the Bearded Vulture.
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In open prairies and grassland from Western Canada all the way to Mexico, an owl digs in the soil, excavating an underground home. This is the Burrowing Owl, a curious bird with a surprising lifestyle of sub-terrain living and a taste for beetles and small rodents. Join Tom as he digs under the surface to explore the underground life of the Burrowing Owl – a species of tiny stature but huge character.
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Able to navigate the interwoven branches of our native woodland with ease and with an practically unrivalled reputation for hunting ability, the Goshawk is an almost legendary bird of prey. Join Tom and Hawk Conservancy Trust President, Chris Packham, as they share their passion for this impressive native bird of prey.
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The Lappet-faced Vulture is one of the largest species of vulture in the world with a wingspan of over 2.5m and weighing in at around 7kg! Despite their impressive build, they are a species in desperate need of our support. This month, as we join with collections and organisations around the world by taking part in International Vulture Awareness Day on 2 September, Tom teams up with our Head of Conservation and Research, Dr Campbell Murn, to present our plans to support this incredible but endangered vulture.
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No matter what the image you have in your mind is when it comes to vultures, the Egyptian Vulture implores you to make a reassessment. They’re smart, can easily equal any eagle when it comes to soaring ability and must have the funkiest white hair-do (feather-do?) of any bird of prey! Join us as we discover more about the Egyptian Vulture and the work being done to protect this endangered species.
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With pure white feathers and piercing yellow eyes, the Snowy Owl is probably one of the most recognisable species of birds of prey in the world. This is a species which thrives where other species of birds of prey are seldom found - in some of the coldest regions on our planet. Discover how this species survives in it’s sub-zero habitat, what they find to eat in their tundra landscape and how scientists are studying their movements in the wild to understand how threatened they might be and what can be done to support them.
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Take a dive into the world of speed with the species awarded the title of fastest animal in the world – the Peregrine Falcon. Discover just how fast these birds can travel, how they’re faring in the wild in the UK and the part that the Hawk Conservancy Trust plays in giving Peregrine Falcons and many other species of raptors every chance at success.
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Striated Caracara are one of the most interesting andcharismatic species of birds of prey in the world. They are also consideredsome of the smartest birds of prey, often being thought of more like a raven orcrow than as a falcon. Striated Caracaras have historically been dubbed ‘flyingmonkeys’ and ‘flying devils’ thanks to their inquisitive and somewhat heavyhanded (or should that be taloned?) approach to life. Join Tom as he chats toKatie Harrington, a research biologist who has worked hard to understand themovements and behaviour of populations of Striated Caracaras on the Falklands –even inventing puzzles for them to solve! We also challenge Sirius, one of theresident Striated Caracaras at the Trust, to solve a puzzle he’s never seenbefore.
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It’s possibly the most bizarre looking bird of prey you’ll ever see and certainly one of the largest. With a great crown of long feathers upon their head, a bright orange face and long legs standing them at almost 4ft tall, it’s seems as if the Secretary Bird would be more at home in Jurassic Park or the artwork of a Dr Seuss book. Find out about their striking (in more ways than one!) adaptations and the research we’ve undertaken to better understand this fascinating species.
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Ugly, menacing and unhygienic – Just some of the words you might have heard to describe some of the world’s most efficient scavengers – the vultures. These winged carrion-eaters have long since been synonymous with death and destruction. Our popular culture likens them to our least favoured political figures and even children’s film and television label them as the bad guys. But do vultures really live up to this cruel and cowardly reputation or is there more to it than that?
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A taste of what to expect from Nature's a Hoot, the podcast from the Hawk Conservancy Trust.
Discover a fascinating world of feathers and talons in our podcast dedicated to birds of prey and their place in the natural world. Join us and uncover hidden secrets of these feathered predators to help us understand how we can conserve some of the most endangered species on our planet today.
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