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.
74 Eastern Yellow Robin
Learn about the life of the Eastern Yellow Robin and discover what makes this bird so special, from behaviours to genetics, with ornithologist Lana Austin.
73 Eastern Osprey
Enter the world of the Eastern Osprey and the citizen science projects helping us understand this bird of prey, with birder and photographer Pip Grant-Taylor.
72 From Dawn to Dusk
Listen to the stories of award-winning nature photographer Shelley Pearson and discover how light, patience and perspective bring birds to life through her lens.
71 More than Meets the Eye
Curious about feathers, eyelids or legs? Dr Gráinne Cleary explains the quirky bird features that have more in common with us than you think.
70 Birding in East Gippsland
Go birdwatching through the eyes of an 11-year old. Luca shares his love of East Gippsland, birding wishlists and the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher.
69 Silos and Sacred Kingfishers
Explore Australia's birds through public art. Geoffrey Carran shares how kingfishers, kookaburras and endangered species inspire his massive silo murals.
68 Strength of Country
Discover the connection between birds, First Peoples cultures and ecology. Dr Jack Pascoe shares stories from the Otways and the joy of listening to Fan-tailed Cuckoos.
67 Bird Feathers
Some bird feathers aren't what they seem. Artist Freia Noss shares the science behind colour and iridescence, and her love of Australian ducks.
66 Swift Parrots
Celebrate the Swift Parrot - Australia’s 2023 Bird of the Year. Beau Meney from Birdlife Australia shares how to spot them and why protecting them matters.
65 Birding on a Balcony
Discover how birdwatching from a balcony brought joy during lockdown. Christine Parrott shares her love for everyday birds and urban birding.
64 Beach Birds
Australian artist Bridget Farmer shares her love of Australia’s beach birds (like oystercatchers and plovers) and how they inspire her art and children’s books.
63 New Homes for Urban Birds
Dr Kylie Soanes shares clever and inspiring urban conservation ideas, from bird nesting hollows to floating wetlands, and the joy of spotting birds in unexpected places.
62 Birding Beyond Barriers
Paralympian Richard Cordukes shares his passion for birdwatching and the birds of northern Australia, including the Western Bowerbird and Gouldian Finch. He also shares the opportunities and challenges of birding in a wheelchair.
61 Big City Birds
Dr John Martin shares insights from the Big City Birds project, where citizen scientists and ecologists work together to better understand Australian ibis, corellas and cockatoos.
60 Bruny Island
Escape to Bruny Island in Tasmania to see rare birds like the Forty-spotted Pardalote and Swift Parrot. This chat is with Ella Roles, Bruny Island Festival Coordinator.
59 Birder Beginnings
Teenage birdwatcher Luke Eaton shares how his love for birds began, his conservation efforts, and his admiration for the King Parrot and Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo.
58 Thornbills
Bird guide Ricki Coughlan shares how to identify Australia’s thornbills and other Little Brown Birds, and offers tips for using binoculars with confidence.
57 Birding in Darwin
Explore Top End birding with Dr Amanda Lilleyman. Learn about Red Knots, Far Eastern Curlews, Kakadu and the Lee Point shorebirds campaign.
56 Little Penguins
Penguin researcher Paula Wasiak shares insights into Phillip Island’s Little Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins) from research and fieldwork to conservation and STEM outreach.
55 For the Love of Owls
Photographer and podcaster Cesar Puechmarin shares his love for Australian owls, including the Rufous Owl and Southern Boobook, and why birdwatching is best when shared.

