Weekend Birder

Australia’s most listened-to nature podcast

Over 150 episodes are waiting for you.

Hosted by Kirsty Costa, Weekend Birder podcast reveals the fascinating lives of everyday Australian birds through stories, science and wonder in everyday places.

Episodes explore Australian bird behaviour, ecology, conservation and the surprising ways birds live. Whether you’re new to birdwatching or have loved birds for years, there's always something new to discover.

New to birdwatching or Weekend Birder? Start here. These three episodes are easy place to begin.

Episode library

Below is the full episode library, including show notes. You can also search for a bird, topic or guest.

13 Shorebirds and Plovers
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13 Shorebirds and Plovers

Shorebird chicks start communicating before they even hatch. Dr Kristal Kostaglou shares the lives of Australian shorebirds, including Red-capped Plovers and the tiny calls coming from inside the egg.

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12 Birding in Wetlands
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12 Birding in Wetlands

Wetlands can feel overwhelming until you learn how to move through them slowly. Peter Murphy shares birdwatching at Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands and how volunteering can build your skills.

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11 Sydney Bird Club
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11 Sydney Bird Club

Birdwatching in Sydney can be part science, part art and part good excuse for a walk. Amy Ranck and Stephanie Chambers from Sydney Bird Club share favourite birding places, community and the Channel-billed Cuckoo.

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10 Powerful Owls
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10 Powerful Owls

A Powerful Owl can live quietly above a city and still feel completely wild. Scientist Nick Bradsworth shares how to identify Powerful Owls, what they eat, where they live and why hollow-bearing trees matter.

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09 Tawny Frogmouths
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09 Tawny Frogmouths

Discover the secrets of the Tawny Frogmouth, one of Australia’s most loved birds. Dr Marian Weaving shares their fascinating features, quirky behaviours and how we can help them thrive in the wild.

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08 Aussie Bird Count
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08 Aussie Bird Count

Twenty minutes outside can become part of a national bird story. Sean Dooley from BirdLife Australia shares how to join the Aussie Bird Count and why counting common birds matters.

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07 Little Brown Birds
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07 Little Brown Birds

Little brown birds stop being impossible once you learn how to look at them. Bird guide Ricki Coughlan shares how bird topography can help you identify tricky Australian birds.

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06 Magpies
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06 Magpies

Why do magpies swoop? How complicated is their language? Learn about the interesting world of Australian Magpies with Dr Mandy Ridley.

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05 Using Binoculars
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05 Using Binoculars

Binoculars feel awkward until someone shows you the simple tricks. Anthony Overs shares how to choose and use binoculars so you can get a better look at the birds around you.

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04 Superb Fairywrens
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04 Superb Fairywrens

Those little blue birds in the park have far more going on than they let on. Dr Holly Kirk shares Superb Fairywren research, urban ecology and her love of Royal Park in Melbourne.

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03 Beginner Tips
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03 Beginner Tips

Lazy birdwatching is still birdwatching, and honestly, it might be the best kind. Author and illustrator Georgia Angus shares beginner tips, seasonal plumage and the birds that helped shape 100 Australian Birds.

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02 Peregrine Falcons
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02 Peregrine Falcons

Melbourne’s famous Peregrine Falcons have turned a city building into a shared birdwatching moment. Dr Victor Hurley shares the story of the falcons at 367 Collins Street and the community that follows them.

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01 How to Start Birding
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01 How to Start Birding

Birdwatching can begin before you know a single bird name. Merrilyn Smith shares how listening, noticing and practice helped her start birding and build confidence over time.

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