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Weekend Birder

Weekend Birder

Kirsty Costa

Love birds? You've come to the right place. This is your guide to Aussie birdlife. Kirsty Costa interviews birdwatchers, scientists, artists and comedians in this popular science and nature podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Top 10 Weekend Birder Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Weekend Birder episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Weekend Birder for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Weekend Birder episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Weekend Birder - 85 Pigeons and Doves - with Sean
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10/08/24 • 24 min

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 - @BirdlifeOz


Weekend Birder online:

Website - weekendbirder.com

Instagram - @weekend.birder

Facebook - @weekend.birder



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Weekend Birder - 92 Bird Mimics with Vicky
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11/26/24 • 28 min

Uncover the surprising truths about bird mimicry and vocal learning. This episode is about the hidden talents of Australian birds.


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.


** New WONDER t-shirt out now - weekendbirder.com/store


Links:

Vicky on Twitter - @avianbehaviour

Vicky on Instagram - @avianbehaviour

Vicky at the Animal Ecology Lab - animalecologylab.org/victoria-austin.html


Submit your bird mimic recordings:

Gregory Andrews magpie mimic recording via 7news - 7news.com.au/news/nsw/magpie-filmed-mimicking-fire-truck-siren-as-bushfires-ravage-nsw-and-victoria-c-629563

Merlin Sound ID - merlin.allaboutbirds.org/sound-id/

BIrdNet app - https://birdnet.cornell.edu/

iNaturalist app - inaturalist.org/posts/6315-recording-bird-calls

Xeno-canto website - xeno-canto.org


Vicky’s recommendations:

A First Book of Australian Backyard Bird Songs by Fred Van Gessel - au.newhollandpublishers.com/authors/fred-van-gessel.html

Where the Lyrebird Lives by Vicky Conley and Max Hamilton - windyhollowbooks.com.au/products/where-the-lyrebird-lives

Busy Beaks by Sarah Allen - sarahallen.com.au/shop/busy-beaks

Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker - illustrated.com.au/product/bowerbirdblues/13

Google Scholar - scholar.google.com.au


Weekend Birder online:

Website - weekendbirder.com

Instagram - @weekend.birder

Facebook - @weekend.birder



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Weekend Birder - 89 Brush-turkeys with Ann
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11/05/24 • 22 min

Enter the world of one of Australia’s iconic city and rainforest birds. This episode is about the fascinating mating, nesting and hatching behaviour of the Australian Brush-turkey, and what you can do to help it thrive in your neighbourhood.


Dr Ann Göth was born in Austria and began birdwatching at an early age. Her career as an ecologist started with a conservation project for an endangered megapode in Tonga and later led her to Australia. There, she worked as a lecturer at Macquarie University and served as a Threatened Species Officer for the NSW government. Currently, she shares her passion for nature and science as a high school teacher in Sydney. For her PhD and in the years following, she focused on the Australian Brush-turkey, particularly its chicks' behavior and development. Recently, she has published three books: one about Brush-turkeys, a travel memoir of her adventures in Tonga, and an illustrated picture book featuring a Brush-turkey. In 2008, she co-authored the book ‘Mound-builders’ with Professor Darryl Jones.


Links:

Ann’s website - anngothauthor.com

Ann on Facebook - @anngoth

Ann on Instagram - @anngothauthor

Ann on TikTok - @ann.gth

Ann on Twitter/X - @anngothauthor

Australian Brush-turkey recording by Marc Anderson, licenced from wildambience.com

Subscribe to the Monthly Letter - weekendbirder.com/monthly-letter


Weekend Birder online:

Website - weekendbirder.com

Instagram - @weekend.birder

Facebook - @weekend.birder



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Deep-dive into the language of birdwatching. Our 100th episode is about birding slang, amusing anecdotes and the impact of language on our connection to birds and each other.


Dr Cesar Puechmarin is a wildlife veternarian, award-winning wildlife photographer and the host of Death by Birding podcast. Dr Kylie Soanes is a scientist who collaborates with councils, community groups, engineers and architects to make real change for wildlife in urban environments. 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. Stephanie Chambers is the co-founder of Sydney Bird Club and artist at Outer Island. What a stellar bunch of humans!


Links:

How to speak birdwatching slang - weekendbirder.com/how-to-guides/how-to-speak-birding-slang

Cesar’s website - cesaronsafari.com

Kylie’s website - kyliesoanes.com

Sean on Instagram - @sean.dooley.birdman

Birdlife Australia's website - birdlife.org.au

Aussie Bird Count - aussiebirdcount.org.au

Steph's Outer Island website - outerisland.com.au

Steph's Sydney Bird Club website - sydneybirdclub.com


Weekend Birder online:

Website - weekendbirder.com

Instagram - @weekend.birder

Facebook - @weekend.birder

TikTok - @weekend.birder

YouTube - @WeekendBirder



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Weekend Birder - 99 Emus and Cassowaries - with Luca
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01/14/25 • 20 min

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

TikTok - @weekend.birder

YouTube - @WeekendBirder



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Weekend Birder - 98 Bush Stone-curlews - with Paula
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01/07/25 • 18 min

Get to know one of Australia’s most endearing birds. This episode is about the re-introduction of the Bush Stone-curlew on to Millowl (Phillip Island) and the sewing of tiny bird backpacks.


Paula Wasiak began her wildlife research journey in 2007 and spent over 15 years covered in penguin poop and elbow deep in burrows, while she coordinated and conducted field data collection for the Phillip Island Nature Parks. She is currently undertaking a PhD through the Australian National University, reintroducing the locally extinct Bush Stone-curlew back onto Millowl, Phillip Island. Named a Superstar of STEM in 2023/24, Paula loves sharing her knowledge with different audiences, from community groups to students, and occasionally on the radio and telly.


Links:

Paula on Instagram - @paula_wasiak

Paula on TikTok - @paul.penguin

Paula on Threads - @paula_wasiak

Paula on Twitter/X - @paulawasiak

Paula’s Superstars of STEM profile - scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/paula-wasiak/


The Littlest Penguin by Jedda Robaard - penguin.com.au/books/the-littlest-penguin-9781761341830

Phillip Island Nature Parks Bush Stone-curlew re-introduction- penguins.org.au/conservation/education/nature-notes/bush-stone-curlew/

Penguin Foundation website and socials - penguinfoundation.org.au


Bush-stone Curlews before dawn recording by Ken George (XC857992) - xeno-canto.org

Bush-stone Curlews in flight recording 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.

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Weekend Birder - 87 Where Song Began - with Tim
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10/22/24 • 19 min

Learn about bird evolution from an ecologist and best-selling author. This episode is about where songbirds originated from, Australia’s ‘woodpecker’ and other fun birds, and the simple joys of being out in the bush.


Tim Low is a biologist and best-selling author of seven books, four of which have won prizes. His most popular book, ‘Where Song Began’, won best general non fiction at the Australian Book Industry Awards. And ‘Feral Future’ inspired the formation of the Invasive Species Council, a conservation group that campaigns for better policies on introduced species. This year, Tim was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to conservation and environmental awareness.


Links:

Subscribe to the Monthly Letter - weekendbirder.com/monthly-letter

Tim’s website - timlow.com

Tim’s books - timlow.com/books/

Tim on Twitter/X - @timlow5

Brown Thornbill recording by Ramit Singal (XC571148) - xeno-canto.org

Chestnut-crowned Babbler 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.

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Weekend Birder - 91 Margaret River - with Lucy
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11/19/24 • 18 min

Discover a unique pocket of Western Australia. This episode is about living in regional Australia, Red-winged Fairywrens and birdwatching with an ADHD brain.


Lucy Curtin is a bird fanatic living in Margaret River, Western Australia. As a novice birdwatcher, she has enjoyed this very podcast to broaden her knowledge, and feel connected to the birding community around Australia. Lucy loves all birds of all sizes, and has recently started photographing them to share her experiences, as well as try to remember the amazing bird moments she has. Having been diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Lucy has been using birdwatching as a way to calm her mind and to help build a regular routine. Lucy, her wife, and her family walk with appreciation and respect on Wadandi Boodja.


Links:

Weekend Birder merch - weekendbirder.com/store

Weekend Birder map of places to visit - weekendbirder.com/places


Lucy on Instagram - @birdsoftanahmarah

Tanah Marah website - tanahmarah.com.au

Tanah Marah on Instagram - @tanahmara

Tanah Marah on Facebook - @tanahmarahmargaretriver

Red-winged Fairywren recording 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.

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Weekend Birder - 74 Eastern Yellow Robin - with Lana
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04/30/24 • 18 min

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.

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Weekend Birder - 86 Twitchathon - with Mick and Bastian
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10/15/24 • 30 min

Meet two participants of a sport especially for birdwatchers. This episode is about competitive birdwatching, the magic of the Hunter region of NSW and how birds can bring us together.


Mick Roderick is a Twitchathon tragic. In 2023, he notched up his 25th consecutive Twitchathon – all of them in the main race. To maintain this, he twice flew back from year-long overseas backpacking trips to partake in those years’ Twitchathons, as well as being ‘close to home’ when his first child’s due-date was nearing. Mick works at BirdLife Australia and is the current Regent Honeyeater Recovery Coordinator, as well as being the current Vice President of the Hunter Bird Observers Club. Mick’s other passion is seabirds and he has been running pelagic birding trips since 2010. In between, he has birded on 6 continents as a ‘backpacking birder’ and knows full well how heavy field guides can get inside a backpack (especially South American ones!).


Bastian Fox Phelan is a writer of memoir and environmental essays from Mulubinba Newcastle, Australia. Bastian writes about bodies, binaries, place, and environment. Bastian's debut memoir, How to Be Between, was published by Giramondo in 2022. She is a PhD candidate in Creative Nonfiction at the University of Newcastle, writing an eco-memoir about exploring local ecologies. Bastian participated in the Twitchathon the same year that she discovered the joys of birdwatching and has been hooked ever since.


Links:

BIGNET Twitchathon (ACT & NSW) website - twitchathon.com.au

BIGNET Twitchathon (ACT & NSW) on Instagram - instagram.com/twitchathon.nswact/

BIGNET Twitchathon (ACT & NSW) on Facebook - facebook.com/groups/451411113051359/


Landcare Victoria Twitchathon website - chuffed.org/project/landcare-victoria-twitchathon-2024


Hunters Observers Club website - hboc.org.au

Hunter Observers Club on Instagram - @hunterbirders

Hunter Observers Club on Facebook - @hunterbirding


Awakbakal Language Program - seasons.awabakallanguage.org.au/calendar


Weekend Birder online:

Website - weekendbirder.com

Instagram - @weekend.birder

Facebook - @weekend.birder



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Weekend Birder have?

Weekend Birder currently has 103 episodes available.

What topics does Weekend Birder cover?

The podcast is about Hobbies, How To, Nature, Wildlife, Podcasts, Education, Science and Birds.

What is the most popular episode on Weekend Birder?

The episode title '99 Emus and Cassowaries - with Luca' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Weekend Birder?

The average episode length on Weekend Birder is 21 minutes.

How often are episodes of Weekend Birder released?

Episodes of Weekend Birder are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Weekend Birder?

The first episode of Weekend Birder was released on Sep 20, 2022.

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