Weekend Birder

Kirsty Costa
Weekend Birder

Love birds? You've come to the right place. This is your guide to the amazing world of Australian birds. Featuring interviews, expert tips, and inspiring stories, this much-loved science podcast connects listeners in over 75 countries with the wonders of nature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Gang-gang Cockatoos - with Holly and Gee

    FEB 18

    Gang-gang Cockatoos - with Holly and Gee

    Learn all about one of Australia’s charasmatic cockatoos. This episode is a deep-dive into the world of the Gang-gang Cockatoo and the people that love it with all of their heart. Dr. Holly Parsons is all about the birds that live where people live. As BirdLife Australia’s Manager of Priority Sites, she oversees programs that aim to protect key habitats, including those in urban areas where her passion lies. Holly leads initiatives that connect people with urban birdlife through citizen science, education, and habitat restoration, and with a passion for turning curiosity into action, she hopes to inspire others to create spaces where birds and people can thrive together. Giovanna (Gee) Hounsell is a retired teacher, amateur bird photographer and passionate conservationist. She has 3 sons and 3 amazing grandchildren. Gee wants her grandchildren to grow up enjoying the incredible beauty and biodiversity of the natural spaces on the NSW South Coast where she lives. She and a colleague have spent over a thousand hours observing a local group of Gang-gangs since late January 2024. Links: * Birdlife Australia - Gang-gang Cockatoo Recovery - birdlife.org.au/projects/gang-gang-cockatoo-recovery/ * Birdlife Australia - Urban Birds - birdlife.org.au/programs/urban-birds/ * Birds in Schools - birdlife.org.au/projects/birds-in-schools/ * Holly on Instagram - @backyardbirdo * Birds in Backyards on Instagram - @birdsinbackyards * Birds in Backyards on Facebook - facebook.com/groups/BirdsinBackyards/ * Birds in Backyards website - birdsinbackyards.net * Gang-gang Cockatoo recording by Marc Anderson licenced from wildambience.com Weekend Birder online: * Website - weekendbirder.com * Instagram - @weekend.birder * Facebook - @weekend.birder * YouTube - @WeekendBirder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  2. 103 Thriving in the City - with Jacinta

    FEB 11

    103 Thriving in the City - with Jacinta

    Discover how to create bird-friendly gardens in urban areas. This episode explores the challenges urban birds face, from habitat loss to Noisy Miners, and offers practical tips for supporting them in our own backyards. Jacinta Humphrey is an Urban Ecologist and Postdoctoral Researcher with the ICON Science group at RMIT University. Her work explores Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design and aims to find opportunities to create and enhance habitat for birds in residential neighbourhoods, urban parks, schoolyards and private gardens. She also monitors the Birrarung Trial Floating Wetlands, a series of artificial habitat islands installed in the Yarra River-Birrarung, on behalf of The University of Melbourne. When she’s not thinking about birds, Jacinta spends her time swimming, running, and playing with her two (indoor only) cats. Links: * Jacinta on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jacinta-humphrey-urban-ecologist/ * Jacinta Instagram - @jacintahumphrey/ * Jacinta on Twitter/X - x.com/HumphreyJE_ * Jacinta’s Birds in the Burbs summary brochure - doi.org/10.26181/25485955 * Living with Wildlife by Tanya Loos - tanyaloos.com/living-with-wildlife/ * The Secret Lives of Our Urban Birds hosted by Ann Jones on ABC iView - iview.abc.net.au/show/secret-lives-of-our-urban-birds * Noisy Miner recording by Marc Anderson licenced from wildambience.com Weekend Birder online: * Website - weekendbirder.com * Instagram - @weekend.birder * Facebook - @weekend.birder * YouTube - @WeekendBirder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min
  3. 102 Birds and Music - with Ruby

    FEB 4

    102 Birds and Music - with Ruby

    Hear a musician reflect on how birds affect life and music. This episode is about the deep connection between nature and music, and how birds provide us with a sense of place. If anyone can silence a room, it’s South Africa-born and Melbourne-based musician Ruby Gill. Ruby’s arresting lyricism and deadpan wit have already garnered them millions of streams, awards and radio play from Triple J and every major metro station in Australia, to BBC6Music and KCRW over the pond. Known to bring even the most stoic to tears with profound reflections on society and self-awareness, Ruby’s “melancholic lyrical wizardry” has earned the reputation of unmissable, with accolades such as as Sunday Times’ Breaking Act (UK), Emerging Artist of the Year at Port Fairy Folk Festival, nominations for The Australian Music Prize (Mercury equivalent) and Best Folk Work at the Music Victoria Awards, and high praise from NME, CLASH, The Independent and more. Consistent reviews echo Triple J’s Zan Rowe, “excuse me while I scrape myself off the floor.”  Available on YouTube, your podcast app or listen below. Links: Ruby’s new album Some Kind of Control is out March 28 2025. * Ruby’s website - https://rubygill.me/ * Ruby on Facebook - @rubygillmusic * Ruby on Instagram - @rubymarygill * Ruby on Twitter/X - @rubymarygill * Ruby on YouTube - youtube.com/user/rubymarygill * Bird Song by Cosmo Sheldrake - cosmosheldrake.com/music/birdsong * Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron and Wine - youtube.com/watch?v=RGVmhrfQqzg * Blue Jay recording by Dan Lane (XC215532) - xeno-canto.org * African Paradise Flycatcher recording by Tony Archer (XC603822) - xeno-canto.org * Hadada Ibis recording by Tony Archer (XC686712) - xeno-canto.org Weekend Birder online: * Website - weekendbirder.com * Instagram - @weekend.birder * Facebook - @weekend.birder * YouTube - @WeekendBirder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min
  4. 99 Emus and Cassowaries - with Luca

    JAN 14

    99 Emus and Cassowaries - with Luca

    Fall in love with Australia’s two largest (and flightless) birds. This episode explores what makes these big birds so special, from their impressive size and strength to the important job they play in the Australian landscape. Luca is an 12-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 is now on YouTube - @WeekendBirder * Weekend Birder is now on TikTok - @weekend.birder * Subscribe to the Monthly Letter - weekendbirder.com/monthly-letter * Recordings by Marc Anderson licenced from wildambience.com Weekend Birder online: * Website - weekendbirder.com * Instagram - @weekend.birder * Facebook - @weekend.birder * YouTube - @WeekendBirder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Love birds? You've come to the right place. This is your guide to the amazing world of Australian birds. Featuring interviews, expert tips, and inspiring stories, this much-loved science podcast connects listeners in over 75 countries with the wonders of nature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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