Blogger: Erica Howe, Communications Manager
Last night was my second appearance onto BBC Radio Norfolk to fill in for our local celebrity farmer Chris Skinner! I love doing these slots, they really are a lot of fun and although the sick feeling in my tummy builds up from about 3 hours before, it soon disappears and the time in the studio flies by! Matthew Gudgin is an excellent presenter and always gives us a great opportunity to tell lots of wonderful wildlife stories.
Last night we talked about a whole host of things, from powder down marks left by owls on patio doors, crows attacking people, the beautiful terns of the Norfolk coast to cryptic rural riddles and kestrels with UV vision!
I always try to prepare as much as I can for these slots, but something always comes up that pleasantly surprises me! Last night, one of the callers described how every year she has a young greater-spotted woodpecker that flies straight into her patio windows! Apparently she’s tried everything to put it off, but it keeps happening. One man called in to say that he puts an evil looking teddy bear in his window to deter suicidal birds from flying into the windows! It is certainly an interesting solution!
No matter what the topic or who the caller is, the show is always a great success and it would seem that people really do love to talk about wildlife in their local area. Norfolk certainly is a hotspot for RSPB and i’ve always been really proud to say I live here, amongst the swallowtail butterflies, the bitterns, the broads and the city centre, but appearing on BBC Radio Norfolk really is a fantastic experience. Up there with Alan Partridge, it’s great to have such a strong relationship with the folk of Norfolk.
Till next time ....
Erica, RSPB Communications Team, East