# Falconry, fashion and threat: a history of people and birds

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-english-heritage-podcast-1111199/falconry-fashion-and-threat-a-history-of-people-and-birds
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-english-heritage-podcast-1111199/falconry-fashion-and-threat-a-history-of-people-and-birds.md
Podcast: [The English Heritage Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-english-heritage-podcast-1111199)
Published: 2026-01-22T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/EHE6163207650.mp3?updated=1774948232
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/EHE6163207650.mp3?updated=1774948232
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-english-heritage-podcast-1111199/episodes/falconry-fashion-and-threat-a-history-of-people-and-birds
Duration seconds: 2661

## Resource

From Darwin’s pigeons to peregrines on Parliament, birds have always been more than background noise. They’ve shaped science, symbolism, status and the very landscapes we live in. In this episode, Amy chats with three passionate bird enthusiasts: English Heritage’s Dr Louise Crawley, head gardener and bird obsessive Anthony O’Rourke, and zoologist and broadcaster Megan McCubbin. Together, they explore our long, tangled relationship with birds: from Victorian taxidermy and medieval falconry to folklore, fashion and the fight for biodiversity today. Along the way, there are moon-flying woodcocks, pigeon-breeding experiments in a country kitchen, and a powerful reminder that heritage sites aren’t just windows into the past but vital refuges for wildlife right now. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠ Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.* Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-english-heritage-podcast-1111199/episodes/falconry-fashion-and-threat-a-history-of-people-and-birds/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-english-heritage-podcast-1111199/falconry-fashion-and-threat-a-history-of-people-and-birds.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.