[1] It was created as an offshoot from a programme called The Naturalist, in order to avoid overwhelming the content of the latter with ornithological material.
[2] The first episode was broadcast on 19 March 1951 and was presented by Fisher and produced by Desmond Hawkins, with guest speakers John Gibb (Edward Grey Institute), Bruce Campbell (British Trust for Ornithology), Hilda Quick (Cornwall Birdwatching Society) and Ludwig Koch.
[6] The show was first broadcast quarterly,[8] and eventually monthly, alternating every fortnight with The Naturalist.
[10] A biographical note on Fisher, accompanying The National Archives' record for their collection of his papers, says the programme was "enormously popular in [its] day".
[11] David Attenborough has said of The Naturalist and Birds of Britain:[12] As a boy, I listened to those programmes, and I dare say my own passion was stoked by them.