In 1911 a photograph of young Bittern in the nest taken by Emma Turner proved that Bitterns were breeding again in Norfolk having been driven to extinction in Britain in the late 1800s.
Using extracts from her book, 'Broadland Birds', this programme tells the remarkable story of Emma Turner a pioneer of bird photography (1866-1940); who spent some 20 years at Hickling Broad in Norfolk, where she lived on a houseboat she designed named 'Water Rail' (after the first photograph she took in the Broadlands) and in a hut on a tiny island amongst the reeds (which became known as Turner's island).
After meeting and being inspired by Richard Kearton (who along with his brother Cherry Kearton was one of earliest wildlife photographers) she decided to take up wildlife photography and to document all the Broadland birds. She befriended two marshmen, Alfred Nudd and keeper Jim Vincent, and with their help she learned the ways of the marsh, and how to find, study and photograph the Broadland birds. It was Vincent who helped her find the young Bittern in 1911. She was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Photographic Society for her photograph of the bird.
Emma Turner was not only a pioneer bird photographer but a hugely respected ornithologist, whose studies of birds contributed enormously to our knowledge today. She died in 1940 with many accolades including having been one of the first ten women to be elected a fellow of the Linnaean Society and the first honorary ladies member of the British Ornithologists' Union.
Sound recordings by wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson. Produced by Sarah Blunt.
First broadcast on Tuesday 24 Jan, 2012.
The Perfumed Mountaineer
Living World - Winter Seashore
Open Country: The Boat Builders of Pin Mill
Ramblings: Bonding Walks: Stiperstones, Shropshire
Open Country: Somerset Wassail
Winter Starlings
Go Wild in colder weather
Costing the Earth - Cycle City
The Flower Fields
Nature - The Rainforest Canopy
Journey of a Lifetime - Karen Darke. From Source to Sea via Me
Open Country - Surfing on Scotland’s North Coast
Soundstage - The Oak Woodland
A Guide to Coastal Wildlife - Rock Pools
Open Country - Off Grid in Mid-Wales
The Life Scientific - Sky at Night presenter Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Ramblings - George Monbiot in search of the wild
One to One - Isabel Hardman on nature and depression
The Food Programme - Outdoor Cooking
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
The Atlas Obscura Podcast
Field Recordings
Strong Sense of Place
The Travel Diaries
Untold Italy travel podcast