Tweet of the Day

For poet Liz Berry, December is the robin's month, when our hearts are warmed by its singing under frosty streetlights. She wonders if its midwinter song is one of the reasons why we feel close to robins, and imagine them as our companions in the thin places between living and dying. Liz tells the story of how the robin brought her hope during a difficult pregnancy, inspired by its fierceness and willingness to survive. Presented by Liz Berry and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.This programme features a recording by Martin Billard from Xeno-Canto (XC871726 - European Robin)

The author and journalist Horatio Clare reflects on the cultural history of the human relationship with pheasants. Its Latin name Phasianus Colchicus links the pheasant to the ancient kingdom of Colchis on the shores of the Black Sea, made famous in Greek mythology as the land of the Golden Fleece. These large, colourful long-tailed birds are native to Asia, and likely journeyed to western Europe with the Romans, becoming a symbol of wealth and status. The Normans are credited with popularising the shooting of pheasants in the 11th century, an industry which today releases an estimated 30-45 million captive-bred pheasants into the British countryside every year.Presented by Horatio Clare and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.This programme features audio from Xeno-Canto recorded by Simon Elliot, David M and Tanguy Loïs (XC155202, XC640749 and XC727854 - Common Pheasant).

In the season where starlings gather to murmurate in our winter skies, poet Paul Farley is admiring this dazzling bird up close. Every spring a pair of starlings used to nest in a hollow wall in the house where Paul grew up, and he never got tired of studying its dark iridescent plumage. Laying in bed at night Paul would hear the starlings' impressive mimicry, and remembers the sound of a radio being tuned and even human voices, imagining that these intelligent birds have been curiously studying us.Presented by Paul Farley and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.This programme features a recording by Oliver Swift from Xeno-Canto (XC710439 - Common Starling)

When nature writer Amy-Jane Beer moved to her current home, it seemed like the perfect rural dream. However, there then came an insistent knocking sound every morning - a pair of carrion crows would tap the windows, affronted by their reflections. Amy describes watching and learning to love these birds, which she sees as her quirky, idiosyncratic neighbours.Presented by Amy-Jane Beer and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.Featuring a recording by Martin Billard from Xeno-Canto (Carrion Crow - XC929595)

The home of poet and non-fiction writer Polly Atkin is surrounded by tawny owls. They are the most common owl in Britain, ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 breeding pairs, though we don't know exactly how many. Polly describes hearing the first melancholy call of a tawny owl in autumn, echoing around the lake at Grasmere. Kept awake by chronic illness, the owls' nighttime calls remind Polly that we are not alone, the sound means company, community and home.Polly Atkin is the author of The Company of Owls (Elliott & Thompson).Presented by Polly Atkin and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.