Get to know some of Australia’s overlooked birds. This episode is about the many species of pigeons and doves that are native to Australia, a bunch of rare parrots and the delights of the Aussie Bird Count.Sean Dooley is the National Public Affairs Manager for BirdLife Australia, author of The Big Twitch, and former holder of the Australian Big Year twitching record. For many years, Sean and his team have been working tirelessly to ensure that birds are protected and loved by Australians. That's why he is affectionately known as 'the Birdman' and we reckon he’s a national treasure.Links:* Aussie Bird Count - aussiebirdcount.org.au* Sean’s Pigeons vs Doves video - birdlife.org.au/news/what-bird-is-that-pigeons-vs-doves* Sean’s Crested Pigeons vs. Topnknot Pigeons video - birdlife.org.au/news/what-bird-is-that-crested-pigeons-vs-topknot-pigeons/* Weekend Birder Google Map - maps.app.goo.gl/idqxtcxUDmUkDi1Y7* Spinifex Pigeon recording by Christopher Watson (XC642946) - xenocanto.org* Sean on Twitter - @Twitchathon* Sean on Instagram - @sean.dooley.birdman* BirdLife Australia on Facebook - @BirdlifeAustralia* BirdLife Australia on Instagram - @BirdlifeOz* BirdLife Australia on Twitter - @BirdlifeOzWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover how to take your nature experiences to new heights. This episode is about the difference between awe and wonder, and how each emotion can positively impact your daily life.Karen Jones is a passionate and award-winning environmental educator. She blends three decades of national park ranger and local government sustainability experiences to reveal the scientific evidence behind one of the most craved human experiences - awe.Links:* Karen’s website - tribalfrog.com.au* Japanese Woodpecker recording by Peter Boesman (XC285938 ) - xeno-canto.orgWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weekend Birder is back for Season 3! Here’s a sneak peak of what's coming up.If you like birds, you've come to the right place. Weekend Birder celebrates the stories and smarts of everyday people and their unique connections to birds. Independently produced and featuring short engaging episodes, the podcast equips listeners with the knowledge and skills they need to identify birds, understand their behaviours, and enjoy spending time outside.Kirsty Costa, a bird lover and educator, created Weekend Birder podcast in 2022 to help people discover the benefits of birdwatching. Inspired by her own love of nature, Kirsty aims to make birding accessible and enjoyable for everyone.Let's connect:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear birdwatching stories from around Australia. This episode is about the joys of connecting with neighbourhood birds and the challenge of doing a Local Big Year.Local Big Year is a challenge to identify as many birds species as possible within a local geographical area in one year. Many thanks to the following Local Big Year community members for contributing to this episode - Coreena Veith, Jeremy Ringma, Jo Bangles, Kate Crock, Kylie Savidge, Marian Blake and Sophie Walker.>> Get your Weekend Birder t-shirt at weekendbirder.com/storeLinks:* Local Big Year website - weekendbirder.com/local-big-year* Coreena’s website - www.shutterbugwalkabouts.com.au* Coreena on Instagram - @in.naturephotography* Jeremy on Instagram - @jeremy_ringma* Kate's website - packupandflyaway.com* Kate on Instagram - @packupandflyaway* Kylie on Instagram - @kylie_savidge_psychic* Liz on Instagram - @yarrapenguin* Marian on Instagram - @mariankp* Sophie on Instagram - @sophiealice08Weekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn how to record bird song and use technology to identify them. This episode is about bird call ID apps, sound recording equipment and research into how baby birds learn while they are in their egg.Dr Vicky Austin is interested in bird behaviour and how birds interact with each other and their environment. She is particularly fascinated by the vocalisations of female birds. Vicky’s PhD at Western Sydney University focused on the vocalisations of female Superb Lyrebirds (such as mimicry) and how females use these sounds to protect themselves and their chicks. Vicky reckons that vocalisations of female birds are just as spectacular as males and she’s here to share what she knows.>> Subscribe to the Monthly Letter - weekendbirder.com/monthly-letterLinks:* Vicky on Twitter - @avianbehaviour* Vicky on Instagram - @avianbehaviour* Vicky at the Animal Ecology Lab - animalecologylab.org/victoria-austin.html* Flinders University - flinders.edu.au/college-science-engineering/who-we-are/ecology-evolution-environment* Lyrebird Lab - lyrebirdlab.org* Superb Lyrebird recording by Nick Talbot (XC340211) - xeno-canto.org* Superb Fairywren recording by Marc Anderson, licenced from wildambience.comSound recording apps:* Merlin Bird ID app – merlin.allaboutbirds.org * BirdNet app - birdnet.cornell.edu* xeno-canto (bird sound recordings) - https://xeno-canto.orgWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Search for birds in Western Australia’s coastal heaths, wetlands, arid regions and tropical north. This episode is about the best places to go birdwatching Western Australia and some of the unique birds you might find there.Jeremy Ringma is a Shorebird Project Coordinator at BirdLife Australia. His work involves collecting shorebird survey data in order to assess population trends and support conservation efforts. He also runs workshops to help the community become citizen scientists. Jeremy grew up in Brisbane, where he completed his undergraduate studies and PhD on Australian predator threatened mammals. He started ‘birding’ properly in his early twenties after being interested in wildlife as a kid.Links:* Jeremy on Instagram - @jeremy_ringma* Weekend Birder Google Map - maps.app.goo.gl/idqxtcxUDmUkDi1Y7* BirdLife WA website - birdlife.org.au/groups/birdlife-wa/* BirdLife WA on Facebook - @birdlifewa* BirdLife WA on Instagram - @birdlifewa* Eastern Yellow Wagtail recording by Geoff Carey (XC729999) - xeno-canto.org* Shark Bay Scrubwren recording by Matthias Feuersenger (XC107871) - xeno-canto.org* Noisy Scrub-bird and Western Gerygone recordings by Marc Anderson, licenced from wildambience.comWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adventure around Australia with two passionate birders on a gap year. This episode is about the highs and lows of riding a pushbike 15,000km around Australia to see as many birds as possible in one year.Leo Norman and Cezary Carmichael are on the road, on two wheels, on a grand adventure. The plan is to spend their gap year riding the country and enjoying birdwatching along the way. They are combining their efforts to document the unique cultural and ecological importance of birds in Australia whilst helping to build a school in Timor Leste.Imagine if every Weekend Birder listener donated $10 to Cezary and Leo’s fundraising effort? That’s over $50,000!Let’s do this - spenditwell.com/6730-2/Other links:* Two Birders Two Bikes on Instagram - @twobirderstwobikes* eBird profile - https://ebird.org/profile/MTA2NzU5NQ/AUWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about a bird that’s a little bit different from the rest. This episode is about a quirky and lovable migratory shorebird, and a scientist’s quest to grow our knowledge about its physiology and behaviour.Birgita Hansen has strong research interest in understanding the ecological response of birds to modification of their habitat, which has included studies into migratory shorebirds, riparian restoration in agricultural landscapes and waterbird monitoring at local and continental scales. She is a long-term member of the volunteer-run Victorian Wader Study Group and an executive committee member of the Australasian Wader Studies Group. She is leading a national citizen science research program called The Latham’s Snipe Project.Links:* Latham’s Snipe Project - lathamssnipeproject.wordpress.com* Australian Painted Snipe Tracking - paintedsnipe.com.au* Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI) at Federation University - cerdi.edu.au* Painted Snipe recording was by Peter Boesmen - xeno-canto.org* Introduction to Shorebirds with Jeremy - weekendbirder.com/episodes/51-introduction-to-shorebirds-with-jeremy* Victorian Bird Walks with Damian (includes the Painted Snipe) - weekendbirder.com/episodes/76-bird-walks-with-damian* Weekend Birder Google Map - maps.app.goo.gl/idqxtcxUDmUkDi1Y7Weekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Share in the delight of unexpected birding experiences. This episode is about the joys of photography, why birds bathe, foot quivering and the Regent Honeyeater.McKinley Moens is an 18 year-old nature photographer and ornithologist-in-the-making, based in the Blue Mountains of NSW. She has had a camera in her hand since she was three years old and has been pursuing her dream of becoming an ornithologist since she was 7. McKinley has been banding birds since she was 12 and is now an A-Class Bird Bander. Her photographic achievements thus far include being a 6-time finalist in the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition (including being awarded 2023 Junior Runner-up) and also a 5-time finalist in the BirdLife Australia Photography Awards.Links:* Photos and video featured in this episode - weekendbirder.com/episodes/78-unexpected-moments-with-mckinley* McKinley’s website - mckinleymoens.photography* McKinley on Facebook - @mckinleymoensphotography* McKinley on Instagram - @mckinleymoensphotography* Regent Honeyeater Project - regenthoneyeater.org.au* Regent Honeyeater recordings were by Ross Crates - xeno-canto.orgWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet a small bird with a big personality. This episode is about the Plains-wanderer, a unique and one-of-a-kind Australian bird that is capturing the hearts of the community.Chris Hartnett is a Threatened Species Program Coordinator at Zoos Victoria. Working closely with a range of conservation partners, Chris has led the strategic planning and implementation for Zoos Victoria’s Detection Dogs program since 2016, and Plains-wanderer program since 2018. Her strengths lie in communication, planning, and overcoming the many logistical challenges encountered in the effort to bring species back from the brink of extinction.Links:* Zoos Victoria Plains-wanderer videos on YouTube - youtube.com/@ZoosVictoria* Zoos Victoria website - zoo.org.au* Zoos Victoria on Facebook - @zoosvictoria * Zoos Victoria on Instagram - @zoosvictoria* Zoos Victoria on TikTok - @zoosvictoria* Zoos Victoria on Threads - @zoosvictoria * Zoos Victoria on Twitter/X - @ZoosVictoria * Plains-wanderer recording was by Frank Lambert (XC366840) - xeno-canto.orgWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the joys of birdwatching walks around Victoria and beyond. This episode is about birding in the Castlemaine and Orbost areas, a great place to visit in France and the Australian Painted Snipe.Damian Kelly has been a birder since he was young, exploring the Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne. In more recent times, he has written two birding guides - Castlemaine Bird Walks and Victorian Bird Walks - with the aim of encouraging others to get out and about with birds. Damian is currently working on a guide to birding along rail trails and a bird walks book for the Daylesford/Hepburn area.Links:* Damian's website - castlemainebirds.com* Damian on Facebook - @damian.kelly.35* Damian on Instagram - @damiankkelly* Castlemaine Bird Walks by Damian Kelly (book) - bridgetfarmerprintmaker.com/products/book-castlemaine-bird-walks-by-damian-kelly* Victorian Bird Walks by Damian Kelly (book) - bridgetfarmerprintmaker.com/products/book-victorian-bird-walks-by-damian-kelly* Australian Painted Snipe Tracking website - paintedsnipe.com.au* Weekend Birder Google Map - maps.app.goo.gl/idqxtcxUDmUkDi1Y7* Weekend Birder Monthly Letter - weekendbirder.com/monthly-letterWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Kirsty and her nephew Edward as they explore the world of Australia's kites. This episode is about the joys of seeing and hearing the Whistling Kite, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite and Square-tailed Kite.Edward is 10 years old and has grown up exploring nature. When he's not playing basketball, cricket or footy, he's hanging out in his backyard, the parkland over his back fence areas and in the bush around his holiday house in north-east Victoria. Edward especially loves watching and listening to Gang Gang Cockatoos. He is interested in Australian birds and likes researching endangered birds. Edward loves the sounds of nature and being outside makes him happy.Links:* Birds in Backyards - Whistling Kite - birdsinbackyards.net/species/Haliastur-sphenurus* Birds in Backyards - Black Kite - birdsinbackyards.net/species/Milvus-migrans* Birds in Backyards - Brahminy Kite - birdsinbackyards.net/species/Haliastur-indus* Birds in Backyards - Square-tailed Kite - birdsinbackyards.net/species/Lophoictinia-isura* Bird recordings by Marc Anderson, licenced from wildambience.com Weekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get to know one of Australia’s most charming robins. This episode is about the behaviours, calls, habitats and genetics of the Eastern Robin. It’s time to get sciencey!Lana Austin has been working as a professional ornithologist around the world for many years. To name a few, she has been lucky enough to work with macaws in Peru, Toucans in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and Razorbills on the Isles of Scilly (UK). But in 2019 she decided to return to study to attempt to answer one of life’s biggest questions – are mitonuclear incompatibilities an under-appreciated cause of outbreeding depression? You’ve been wondering yourself, right?! In her free time, Lana moonlights as the President of Earthcare St Kilda, enjoys taking her cats for walks, and doing multi-day hikes. Links:* Eastern Yellow Robin Project - https://sites.google.com/monash.edu/eyr* Monash University’s Wildlife Genetic Management Group - https://sites.google.com/monash.edu/wildlifegeneticmanagement/home* Weekend Birder Google Map - maps.app.goo.gl/idqxtcxUDmUkDi1Y7* Shout out to our friends at Earthcare St Kilda - earthcarestkilda.org.au* Bird recordings by Marc Anderson, licenced from wildambience.com Weekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deep-dive into the world of one of Australia’s charismatic birds of prey. This episode is all about the Eastern Osprey, and how a childhood of field trips and wildlife photography has led to a life-long love of birdwatching and citizen science.Pip Grant-Taylor is a retired TV Journalist Producer who concentrates largely on birds and wildlife photography. She has studied and photographed birds since she was a teenager. Pip’s absolute favourite bird is the Eastern Osprey. She is currently trying to identify the locations of as many Ospreys in the Moreton Bay area (including Sunshine and Gold Coast) as well as upper NSW. When Pip has time, she also likes to pick up the coloured pencils or paints and commit birds to paper.Links:* Pip’s website - pipwrote.wixsite.com/pipspixels* Pip on Facebook - @pipgt* Pip on Instagram - @pipgt* Pip’s photos on Flickr - flickr.com/photos/pipg-t/ * Ospreys in Australia on Facebook - @OspreysinAustralia* Ospreys in Australia on Instagram - @ospreysinaustralia* Ospreys in Australia photos in Flickr - flickr.com/photos/ospreysinaustralia/* Osprey Watch (USA) - osprey-watch.org/about/ospreywatch-program/* Osprey World Nest Data - app.osprey-watch.org/dashboard/* Weekend Birder Google Map - maps.app.goo.gl/idqxtcxUDmUkDi1Y7* eBird Hot Spots Map - ebird.org/hotspots* Birdwatching How-to guides - weekendbirder.com/how-tosWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover how patience and understanding light can create stunning wildlife photographs. This episode is about a photographer’s journey from a childhood in the Australian outback to a career capturing the beauty of birds. Shelley Pearson is an award-winning wildlife photographer who immerses herself in the natural environment, patiently waiting for the right opportunity to photograph a captivating image. She believes it's all about utilising the light, different angles and perspectives to create photos that evoke emotion and tell a story. Shelley teaches and shares her passion through workshops, presentations, and trips. She is passionate about the ‘Wooleen Outback Experience’ trips she hosts with David and Frances Pollock at Wooleen Station in Western Australia.Links:* Shelley’s website - shelleypearsonphotography.com* Shelley on Facebook - @shelleypearsonphotography* Shelley on Instagram - @shelley_pearson_* Shelley on YouTube - @shelleypearson* Weekend Birder Google Map - maps.app.goo.gl/idqxtcxUDmUkDi1Y7Weekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Answering your questions about bird bodies and behaviours. This episode is about bird feathers, eyelids and legs, and their funny little traits that are similar to humans.Dr Gráinne Cleary’s primary area of interest is helping to educate and work with the public to gain the best conservation outcomes for our urban wildlife. She is particularly interested in how we interact with the birds that visit our gardens, and this has been the focus of her last two books. As Australia becomes more urbanised, gardens are becoming an important sanctuary for our birds especially in terms of water, food and shelter. Gráinne is passionate about engaging with community about the birds that visit their gardens and the relationship that are formed.Links:* Gráinne’s website - grainnecleary.com* Backyard Birds book - allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Dr-Grainne-Cleary-Your-Backyard-Birds-9781760297350* Why Do Birds Do That? book - allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Dr-Grainne-Cleary-9781761067235/* Subscribe to the Monthly Letter - weekendbirder.com/monthly-letterLet's connect:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet an 11-year old birdwatcher who has a love for Eastern Victoria. This episode is about a unique part of Australia, birding wishlists and the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher.Luca is an 11-year old nature lover and birder who lives in Naarm (Melbourne) and feels most at home in nature. His fondness and respect for wildlife was first inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s programs. Luca’s fascination for birds began through art at the age of 7, when he started drawing birds and devouring bird identification books. This ignited a passion for birdwatching and bird photography. For Luca, drawing and photographing birds continue to be central in getting to know Australian birds and those living in other parts of the world. Luca carries his passion for birding where ever he goes, whether he is camping, hiking, surfing or on a road trip. He loves sharing his knowledge of birds with others as much as he enjoys learning from birders he meets on his nature adventures. Links:* Weekend Birder Google Map - maps.app.goo.gl/idqxtcxUDmUkDi1Y7Let's connect:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Look at Australia's birds through the eyes of an artist. This episode is about kingfishers, kookaburras and painting birds on huge grain silos.Geoffrey Carran has dedicated the past decade to painting explorations of Australia’s diverse bird population. Geoffrey uses his public murals to highlight endangered bird species that can be found in the artwork's locations. Using these murals and the public's interest in street and public art to raise awareness and start conversations about people's connections, memories and stories about their relationship with Australia’s birdlife and its importance. Geoffrey's paintings, murals and prints can be found in a diverse array of locations, from three massive silos as part of the Australian Silo Art Trail in the West Wimmera to murals in New York, Istanbul and London.Links:* Geoffrey's website - geoffreycarran.com.au* Geoffrey's projects, including silo art - geoffreycarran.com.au/blogs/projects* Geoffrey on Facebook - @geoffreycarranartist* Geoffrey on Instagram - @geoffreycarran* Geoffrey on YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UCYBNjbe0AV3rhmQM2FMEqQQ* Bird recordings by Marc Anderson, licenced from wildambience.comLet's connect:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gain new insights into birds, traditional knowledge and ecology. This episode is about the health of Country, life in the Otways and the Fan-tailed Cuckoo.Dr Jack Pascoe is a Yuin man living on Gadabanut Country. He studied predator ecology, fire, wildlife and botany. He has led a program of applied ecological research in the Otway region for over a decade. Jack recently crossed the line to become some sort of pseudo scientist, academic and activist. He works at the University of Melbourne and is a chief councillor on the Biodiversity Council.Links:* Jack on Twitter/X - @JackHPascoe* Jack's research and articles - findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/861920-jack-pascoe* Biodiversity Council - biodiversitycouncil.org.au* Conservation Ecology Centre - conservationecologycentre.org* Bird recording by Marc Anderson, licenced from wildambience.comLet's connect:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the intricate world of bird feathers. This episode is about feather colour and structure, and the nesting habits of waterfowl.Freia Noss is a lifelong birder and bushwalker, living and working on Dharug and Gundungurra land in the Blue Mountains. During the week she works on re-vegetation projects on rural properties in Australia. In her free time, she enjoys making artworks of the beautiful native Australian flora and fauna she encounters. Freia has degrees in both art theory and environmental science, and studied conservation biology in the Peruvian Amazon, with a focus on bird and butterfly biodiversity. Her art practice has become an important a way for her to re-connect with the environment after a long day in the office.Links:* Freia on Instagram - @wollemiwatercolours* Freia on Facebook - @wollemiwatercolours* Freia on TikTok - @wollemiwatercolours* Blue Mountain Bird Observers - bmbo.org.au* Weekend Birder Google Map - maps.app.goo.gl/9wQj2i6nsekRp2bH8Let's connect:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.