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Description
Saving Species on BBC Radio 4 explores biodiversity, conservation and natural history, both in the UK and across the globe. A special feature about swifts recorded in the tower that legendary ornit...hologist David Lack studied the species. Over the run of Saving Species we have been making special features about past abundance of animals and plants in the British landscape. This week we reflect on Swifts. Swifts are often seen as the bird of the towns and cities. We hear their "chatting" call as they swirl and hawk in the sky for insects. Many are now heading south to Africa but that late summer spectacle in the UK is still with us, if you include the swallows and martins as they group up in the sky grabbing their last meal before heading south. In this programme we hear that nest site availability in the UK is as much an issue for swift survival as the many challenges they face migrating to and wintering in Africa. In this programme we also hear about Southern Ocean Krill. And an ancient beast living in the foot prints of cattle in Scotland - the Tadpole shrimp.
Metadata describing this Open University audio programme
Series: Saving species; Series 1
Episode 18
First transmission date: 2010-08-31
Original broadcast channel: BBC Radio 4
Published: 2010
Rights Statement: Rights owned or controlled by The Open University
Restrictions on use: This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OU Digital Archive web pages.
Duration: 00:30:00
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Producer: Sheena Duncan
Presenter: Brett Westwood
Contributors: Miles Barton; Kelvin Boot; Larry Griffin; Robert King; Elizabeth Lack; Edward Mayer; Roy Overall; Sarah Pitt; Brett Westwood
Publisher: BBC Open University
Production number: PBS03010WZ0018
Available to public: no