Nick Penny grew up in many different parts of the world before doing an arts degree at Oxford University. He then set up his own workshop making musical instruments, as well as writing and playing the Paraguayan harp. After moving to rural Northamptonshire four decades ago, he became fascinated by the birdsong in his local woods, starting to record it and use the sounds in his own music. He’s talked about nightingales on BBC Radio 4’s Open Country, was interviewed by Lauren Laverne for BBC Radio 6 Music’s Supernature feature and has made many appearances on local TV and radio. He presented an educational programme on the science of sound for Channel 4 and has written two non-fiction books on musical subjects for children plus poems for an anthology that was short-listed for a Blue Peter book award. Bradt’s Call of the Kingfisher marks his nature-writing debut.