Historically, the natural world has captivated creative minds, inspiring artists across the globe. Notably, the feathers, songs, and flight of birds have carried countless works of art to new heights. From Aristophanes’ ancient comedy The Birds, and Mozart’s ‘Piano Concerto No. 17,’ influenced by his pet Starling’s churring mimicry, to Vaughan Williams’ interpretation of the Lark’s fluting tune in ‘The Lark Ascending,’ birds have been enduring muses for artists across the industry. The RSPB has often collaborated with artists and musicians who have been inspired by nature.
Sam Lee
For centuries, the Nightingale’s melodic song, with its rich succession of high and low cascading notes, has woven itself throughout the arts. Sam Lee, folk singer and The Nightingale author, found profound inspiration in the species. This spring, Sam commemorated the original 1924 BBC broadcast with a mesmerising live outdoor performance of ‘100 Years of Singing with Nightingales’, streamed via the RSPB’s YouTube channel. During the delicate duet listeners were serenaded by a Nightingale singing into the twilight of a May evening, accompanied by cellist Tara Franks and Sam’s vocals. This enchanting ensemble of strings, birdsong and the human voice is possible only for a few spring weeks when Nightingales are improvising their courtship song.
Sam also played a pivotal role in composing the RSPB’s ‘Let Nature Sing’ which sailed to number 18 in the charts – a testament to nature’s music. Sam describes the single as a “campaign to engage wider public attention and drive avian conservation up the political agenda.”
With the UK Nightingale population declining by 92% since 1970, Sam Lee converges music and birdsong, illuminating species in crisis and helping natures voice permeate modern life through art.
Listen to folk singer Sam Lee duet with Nightingales under the night sky. Video: The RSPB
Kate Stilitz
When tracking work by the RSPB, Swiss Ornithological Institute and Shetland Ringing Group revealed valuable insights into Red-necked Phalarope migration, composer Kate Stilitz was inspired. Her work celebrates this rare bird’s extraordinary 16,000-mile round trip from Shetland to Peru. With expertise from RSPB Fetlar, Shetland, reserve warden Malcie Smith, Kate and co-composer Jilly Jarman crafted the song-cycle: ‘One Small Bird’. The project, commissioned by Haringey Music Service, went nationwide, including an epic performance at the Royal Albert Hall by 2,000 young singers and musicians from London and Lima, Peru.
The impact was profound. One young participant, Laura, commented: “The bird is like a gift, showing us that small things can do so much in their lifetime.” RSPB Shetland Manager, Helen Moncrieff emphasises: “working with artists, scientists and educators is crucial to saving nature and reaching audiences who may not consider themselves conservationists.”
Kate also collaborated with the RSPB on ‘Meadowsong,’ a song-cycle about wildflower habitats designed alongside a comprehensive schools’ programme involving over 300 schools. Kate believes that “the arts enable people to access and engage with nature; fostering a love and desire to nurture and protect it.”
Visit Kate’s website to find out more.
One Small Bird is a song cycle composed by Kate Stilitz and Jilly Jarman in 2016
Miel de Botton
Swiss singer-songwriter, Miel de Botton, drew inspiration from the skies in her 2015 single, ‘Birds Without Borders’. Moved by an article in The RSPB Magazine on the illegal hunting of migratory birds in the Mediterranean, Miel wrote the heartfelt tribute to avian freedom for the RSPB’s Birds Without Borders campaign.
“Let there be birds without borders. Let there be men without guns.”
The poignant lyrics soar through the immense and ‘perilous journey’ of migratory birds, inviting listeners to embrace the boundless beauty and resilience of nature. The song encourages stewardship of our birds citing “traps and bullets” as some of the significant human threats facing migratory species along their flight paths. We are reminded how music transcends geographical borders, just as nature too, knows no boundaries. Miel’s song represents how we can lend our voice to nature to raise awareness of wider conservation issues.
Gecko
Meet Gecko, the singer-storyteller who finds nature “a constant source of inspiration.” His fascination with the ‘inner thoughts’ of animals builds vibrant and refreshing perspectives for audiences. Gecko’s musical podcast series, The Flock, inspired by Aristophanes’ play The Birds, takes this concept further by telling an environmental fable about the end of the world from a bird’s-eye view. He created the compelling podcast with his brother Jack, together they reached out to the RSPB for advice on how to incorporate some of the most pressing human-caused threats facing wild birds.
Gecko seamlessly aligns contemporary conservation issues with captivating narratives, creating an immersive space for listeners to reflect. In the face of climate and biodiversity crises, Gecko strives to make the arts part of the conversation, raising awareness and radiating a message of hope that could spur listeners into action. He believes that “giving voices to the wisdom of the nature around us and talking about these issues through the arts can make us feel less alone, and humans have always achieved change when we come together.”
Gecko’s new album (which will feature ‘The Dawn Chorus’) will be released in the new year.
Steve Waters
Recorded at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, playwright Steve Waters’ BBC Radio 4 series, ‘Song of the Reed’ weaves human voices with the rich soundscape of the reserve in a captivating drama. From the soft hiss of the reeds in the wind, to the bassy booming of the Bitterns, Steve uses nature’s acoustics to share the story of a fictional Norfolk nature reserve’s struggle against the rapid environmental changes occurring across wetlands habitats.
Starring Sophie Okonedo and Mark Rylance, the series brings the fight for nature to life by incorporating real conservation efforts taking place at Strumpshaw, such as species recovery work and wetlands management. RSPB Strumpshaw Site Manager, Tim Strudwick and his team supported the cast and crew on site. He recognised how the drama resonated with listeners and “brought visitors to the reserve, many of whom may not have been otherwise exposed to these types of stories.” Indeed, there has never been a more urgent time to amplify nature’s voice through art and raise awareness of current conservation issues.
Martin Noble
English alternative rock band, Sea Power, often integrate elements of nature into their songs, weaving connections with the natural world throughout their lyrics and soundscapes. In our RSPB Seabirds webinar, Guitarist Martin Noble shared how birds influence the band’s creativity, from song names such as ‘The Great Skua,’ to recordings of Storm Petrel calls accompanying track’s instrumentals.
As an artist, Martin recognises nature’s sensory superpower to evoke a particular emotion or sense of place. While “some tracks use woodland birdsong to give them an immersive relaxing quality,” others harness the familiar cacophony of seabirds and mews of Herring Gulls in a powerful soundscape that transports listeners to the coast. He remarks: “It’s amazing how the sounds of a particular location can bring you straight to that space.”
Get to know the UK’s seabirds and listen to Martin Noble talk about how seabirds have influenced his band’s music. Video: The RSPB
Glastonbury
Many of us envision Glastonbury Music Festival as the iconic Pyramid Stage with massive acts and equally massive crowds. But did you know that the RSPB has made an appearance at Glasto since 2009? This year, with the backdrop of an approaching general election, RSPB Public Engagement Campaigner, Luke Phillips, shared his experience at Glastonbury Festival.
Under the blue RSPB marquee, over one thousand festivalgoers stopped to engage with our conservation work, pledged to campaign with us for nature, and shared ideas on expanding our campaigning reach. Luke observed, “Glastonbury is not just about music. It’s about people coming together and celebrating life. Nature is a vital part of our lives, and we depend on it.”
Just a week before, the RSPB joined the Restore Nature Now march in London, the UK’s largest ever march for nature. Determined to “keep the message alive,” Luke and the RSPB team rallied in Glastonbury’s Green Futures Field. People gathered to lend their voice to nature and listen to representatives from the RSPB, the Wildlife Trust, and young rewilders groups. Performers and nature activists got involved too, including folk singer Sam Lee, who performed an impromptu acapella song about Nightingales! Luke recalls: “We were thrilled that so many people got involved as we marched through the festival to the stone circle. Here we loudly projected our message of ‘Restore Nature Now!’ across the landscape – for all to hear.”
We invite you to step into nature, let the sounds of the wild stir your creativity, and discover your own artistic inspiration. Share your favourite nature-inspired art with us at rspbmagazine@rspb.org.uk.
This is a recording of the Birds, Art and the RSPB webinar for RSPB members which took place on 27 November 2024.
