121 Bird Bird Bird
About this episode
Comedian Rove McManus shares his lifelong love of birds, from backyard Galahs to hummingbirds, and how birdwatching brings awe, laughter and connection.
Birds featured: Galah, Hummingbird, New Holland Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Willie Wagtail, Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise
Episode illustration: Galah
Resources
Video of Wilson’s Bird of Paradise video from BBC Planet Earth II
Galah recording by Marc Anderson - licenced from wildambience.com
Meet the guest
Rove McManus is one of Australia’s best-known comedians, television hosts and writers. After making his name on Rove Live and The Project, he’s continued to create, produce and perform across stage and screen in Australia and overseas. A long-time nature enthusiast, Rove explores how humour, observation and storytelling can spark connection with wildlife. When he’s not on stage or behind the microphone, you’ll often find him out walking with his family, camera in hand, noticing the small and surprising details of the world around him.
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Kirsty Costa [00:00:00]
I’m on the Country of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung Peoples of south-east Melbourne. How about you, Rove?Rove McManus [00:00:05]
I’m on Whadjuk Noongar Country in Western Australia. It’s nesting season here, so you can see birds everywhere collecting materials for their nests. It’s a really beautiful time of year.Kirsty Costa [00:00:26]
We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and to any First Nations people listening to this podcast. Welcome to Weekend Birder. If this is your first time tuning in, I’m Kirsty Costa and together we learn about Australian birds from the people who love them. If you’re listening during Aussie Bird Count Week, I hope you’re seeing lots of great birds. Joining me today is Rove McManus. You might know him from his work in comedy, TV and radio, but what you might not know is that he really loves birds.Rove McManus [00:01:38]
It’s always been there for me. Growing up in Perth, we had a lot of birdlife around. We backed onto a park with a duck pond, and I’ve always been fascinated by birds. I often think of David Attenborough’s response when people ask when his interest started - he says, when did it stop for you? I think every child has that sense of wonder. We had Galahs, Willie Wagtails and all sorts of birds in the backyard. Australia is just incredible for bird diversity, and I’ve always been drawn to their personalities and how funny they can be.Kirsty Costa [00:02:47]
Rove says one of his favourite birds to watch is the Willie Wagtail.Rove McManus [00:02:55]
They’re tiny but fearless. I saw one taking on a Kookaburra the other day, just darting in and pecking at it. The Kookaburra didn’t even move. It was like, not you again. They’ve got so much attitude for such a small bird.Kirsty Costa [00:03:48]
Choosing a favourite bird is almost impossible, but Rove says one stands out.Rove McManus [00:03:48]
It would have to be the Galah. We had them growing up and I just love their personality. They’re playful, they hang upside down, and their call takes me straight back to my childhood.Rove McManus [00:05:20]
Some of the birds that have really amazed me are the Striated Pardalote, which I first identified by its call, and hummingbirds when I lived in Los Angeles. They are incredible - they can hover, fly backwards, and even shrink their organs during migration. They’re just extraordinary creatures.Kirsty Costa [00:06:56]
Rove says one of the things he loves most about birdwatching is the sense of awe.Rove McManus [00:07:14]
When I see a bird, I have this instinct to quietly repeat its name over and over again. I don’t know why, but it’s just this feeling of connection. There’s something about birds that creates that sense of wonder. They’re so diverse, from tiny hummingbirds to huge cassowaries, and it’s hard not to be completely captivated by them.Kirsty Costa [00:10:29]
Birdwatching has also become a way for Rove to connect with his family.Rove McManus [00:10:34]
It’s something I’ve shared with my daughter, and it’s been a really special connection. We even joked about the Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise and its courtship dance - I may have recreated it at home, and somehow it worked out because now we’re married and have a child.Kirsty Costa [00:12:08]
The Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise is an incredible bird known for its elaborate dance displays.Kirsty Costa [00:14:39]
Rove says he doesn’t keep a life list, but he still enjoys identifying birds when he sees them.Rove McManus [00:14:59]
I prefer to just notice birds rather than ticking them off a list. I like using a field guide to identify something in the moment, but it’s more about the experience than the checklist.Rove McManus [00:14:59]
I love photographing birds too. It’s challenging, but when you get a good shot, it feels amazing.Kirsty Costa [00:14:59]
Like many guests on the podcast, Rove finds joy in everyday bird moments.Rove McManus [00:14:59]
Where I live in Perth, we have incredible birdlife right on our doorstep. You don’t have to travel far to see amazing birds. Even just walking around your neighbourhood, you can see so much. It’s something we’re really lucky to have in Australia.Kirsty Costa [00:18:48]
Before we wrap up, Rove shares his philosophy on birdwatching.Rove McManus [00:18:48]
You don’t need to know everything. Even recently, I realised I’d been confusing a New Holland Honeyeater with a White-cheeked Honeyeater. It doesn’t matter. You can just enjoy the bird. You don’t need to name it or get it right - just noticing it is enough.Kirsty Costa [00:26:03]
I love that idea. We all connect with birds in different ways. Thanks so much to Rove McManus for joining us. His love of birds is infectious, and I hope you’re feeling inspired to step outside and notice the birds around you. I’ll speak to you again soon.
