BBC Radio 4 LW

Saving Species

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Examining the world of nature and the challenges of wildlife conservation

Saving Species: Series 2

Saving Species: Series 2: Episode 1

Episode 1

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 - Saving Species, Series 2, Episode 1

Five million swallows swirl above rural Nigeria, poised to migrate to Europe.

Saving Species reports from rural Nigeria under a sky swirling with millions of swallows destined for the barns and roofs of Europe.

Saving Species is back for another year of live broadcasting about the world of wildlife conservation. We kick off the first programme with a glorious reminder that spring has sprung and the UK's most treasured migrant birds are back - the swallows. During the winter a Natural History Unit team visited Nigeria to track down a little known population of wintering swallows - and they found them. With upward of five million individuals, the sky darkened with the swirling avian spectacle. And at the time this programme is broadcast most of those birds will be in their European breeding grounds - a considerable number in the UK - and even more specific, we know some go to Norfolk. We will reveal how we know East Anglia is the destination of some of these West African swallows. 

Also in the programme - news from around the world with our news hound Kelvin Boot - and Matthew Oates finds the Duke of Burgundy butterfly.

Presenter: Brett Westwood
Producer: Sheena Duncan
Editor: Julian Hector.

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Saving Species

Series 2

Episode 1

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4