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. Whether you’re new to birdwatching or have loved birds for years, there's always something new to discover.

New to Weekend Birder? Here are three episodes to get you started.

Episode library

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

53 Birds of Prey
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53 Birds of Prey

Get an introduction to Australia’s birds of prey with expert Stephen Debus. Learn how to identify falcons, hawks, eagles, kites and more.

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52 Orange-bellied Parrots
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52 Orange-bellied Parrots

Dr Jenny Gray from Zoos Victoria shares how community, science and hope are helping to save the Orange-bellied Parrot.

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51 Introduction to Shorebirds
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51 Introduction to Shorebirds

Jeremy Ringma from BirdLife Australia is here to help you identify Australia’s shorebirds and understand the conservation work that supports them.

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50 Birds with Personality
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50 Birds with Personality

Georgia Angus wants to introduce you to the unique birds from around the world, including the Victoria’s Riflebird, Pileated Woodpecker and Burrowing Owl.

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49 Birds in Your Neighbourhood
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49 Birds in Your Neighbourhood

Explore the birds in your suburb and beyond with urban ecologist Dr Darryl Jones. Featuring the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and birdwatching in Kuala Lumpur.

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48 Australian Robins
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48 Australian Robins

Hugh Possingham is here to help you identify Australian robins - red and pink-coloured robins, noisy robins and rare robins.

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47 Birding in the Botanic Gardens - with Liz
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47 Birding in the Botanic Gardens - with Liz

Discover how Liz Hackett's mindful birding walks in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens have become a beautiful way to share nature with others, including watching the Nankeen Night Heron.

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46 The Humour of Birdwatching
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46 The Humour of Birdwatching

Laugh along with Geraldine Hickey as she explores the funny side of birdwatching and reflects on Orange-bellied Parrots, bird calendars, and powerful birdwatching moments.

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44 Cuckoos - with Cassandra and Claire
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44 Cuckoos - with Cassandra and Claire

Delve into the weird and wonderful world of Australian cuckoos, featuring the crafty Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo and how it tricks other birds into raising its young.

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42 Good News Stories
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42 Good News Stories

Conservation work can be hard, but there are still good stories to tell. Darren Grover from WWF-Australia shares bird conservation stories, including Grey Fantails and the people working together to help birds.

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41 Tune Your Ear - Honeyeaters
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41 Tune Your Ear - Honeyeaters

Honeyeaters can sound familiar until you listen more closely. This Tune Your Ear episode helps you learn the calls of common Australian honeyeaters, including Eastern Spinebill, New Holland Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater and White-plumed Honeyeater.

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40 Tune Your Ear - Rails and Crakes
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40 Tune Your Ear - Rails and Crakes

Wetland birds are often heard long before they are seen. This Tune Your Ear episode helps you learn the calls of Australian rails and crakes, including Buff-banded Rail, Lewin’s Rail, Australian Spotted Crake and Spotless Crake.

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39 Tune Your Ear - Whistlers
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39 Tune Your Ear - Whistlers

Whistlers can fill the bush with calls that feel both familiar and hard to place. This Tune Your Ear episode helps you learn the calls of Australian whistlers, including Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler and White-breasted Whistler.

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38 Tune Your Ear - Lorikeets
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38 Tune Your Ear - Lorikeets

Lorikeets are loud, fast and easier to hear than identify. This Tune Your Ear episode helps you learn the calls of Australian lorikeets, including Little Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet and Varied Lorikeet.

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37 Tune Your Ear - Pardalotes
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37 Tune Your Ear - Pardalotes

Pardalotes are tiny birds with calls that carry through the bush. This Tune Your Ear episode helps you learn the calls of Australia’s pardalotes, including Forty-spotted Pardalote, Red-browed Pardalote, Striated Pardalote and Spotted Pardalote.

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36 Accidental Big Year
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36 Accidental Big Year

Charuka Abhayawickrama did not set out to break a birdwatching record. He shares how photography led to an accidental Big Year, 773 bird species and a new way of supporting wildlife conservation.

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35 Bird-friendly Gardens
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35 Bird-friendly Gardens

A garden can become habitat with a few thoughtful choices. Ecologist Tom Hunt shares practical ways to support Australian birds in gardens, balconies and nature strips.

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34 Brolgas and Sarus Cranes
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34 Brolgas and Sarus Cranes

A crane in a wetland is hard to forget. Edward Bell shares the world of Brolgas and Sarus Cranes, and the annual Crane Count in the Atherton Tablelands.

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