[5] Prior to 1952, Clegg worked as a laboratory technician under Hans Adolf Krebs at Sheffield University's biochemistry department.

He presented 'Country Calendar', 'Strictly for the Birds' and 'Clegg's People' for Yorkshire Television, the latter of which ran for ten series as well as a number of programmes for the BBC.

[2] He was an extra mural lecturer for various universities, including Hull, where he was made an honorary fellow in the Department of Adult Education.

He was involved with many natural history groups, his various positions includeming president of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, along with vice presidencies of the Leeds Urban Wildlife Group, York Ornithologist's Club and Rossington Natural History Society.

[6] An annual 'Michael Clegg Memorial Birdrace' is held on the first Sunday of each year in which teams from Yorkshire's popular bird-watching areas compete to find and identify as many species of birds in a single day, with proceeds of the event going to charity.