Learn all about one of Australia’s charasmatic cockatoos. This episode is a deep-dive into the world of the Gang-gang Cockatoo and the people that love it with all of their heart.

Dr. Holly Parsons is all about the birds that live where people live. As BirdLife Australia’s Manager of Priority Sites, she oversees programs that aim to protect key habitats, including those in urban areas where her passion lies. Holly leads initiatives that connect people with urban birdlife through citizen science, education, and habitat restoration, and with a passion for turning curiosity into action, she hopes to inspire others to create spaces where birds and people can thrive together.

Giovanna (Gee) Hounsell is a retired teacher, amateur bird photographer and passionate conservationist. She has 3 sons and 3 amazing grandchildren. Gee wants her grandchildren to grow up enjoying the incredible beauty and biodiversity of the natural spaces on the NSW South Coast where she lives. She and a colleague have spent over a thousand hours observing a local group of Gang-gangs since late January 2024.

Links:

* Birdlife Australia - Gang-gang Cockatoo Recovery - birdlife.org.au/projects/gang-gang-cockatoo-recovery/

* Birdlife Australia - Urban Birds - birdlife.org.au/programs/urban-birds/

* Birds in Schools - birdlife.org.au/projects/birds-in-schools/

* Holly on Instagram - @backyardbirdo

* Birds in Backyards on Instagram - @birdsinbackyards

* Birds in Backyards on Facebook - facebook.com/groups/BirdsinBackyards/

* Birds in Backyards website - birdsinbackyards.net

* Gang-gang Cockatoo recording by Marc Anderson licenced from wildambience.com

Weekend Birder online:

* Website - weekendbirder.com

* Instagram - @weekend.birder

* Facebook - @weekend.birder

* YouTube - @WeekendBirder

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

Discover how to create bird-friendly gardens in urban areas. This episode explores the challenges urban birds face, from habitat loss to Noisy Miners, and offers practical tips for supporting them in our own backyards.

Jacinta Humphrey is an Urban Ecologist and Postdoctoral Researcher with the ICON Science group at RMIT University. Her work explores Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design and aims to find opportunities to create and enhance habitat for birds in residential neighbourhoods, urban parks, schoolyards and private gardens. She also monitors the Birrarung Trial Floating Wetlands, a series of artificial habitat islands installed in the Yarra River-Birrarung, on behalf of The University of Melbourne. When she’s not thinking about birds, Jacinta spends her time swimming, running, and playing with her two (indoor only) cats.

Links:

* Jacinta on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jacinta-humphrey-urban-ecologist/

* Jacinta Instagram - @jacintahumphrey/

* Jacinta on Twitter/X - x.com/HumphreyJE_

* Jacinta’s Birds in the Burbs summary brochure - doi.org/10.26181/25485955

* Living with Wildlife by Tanya Loos - tanyaloos.com/living-with-wildlife/

* The Secret Lives of Our Urban Birds hosted by Ann Jones on ABC iView - iview.abc.net.au/show/secret-lives-of-our-urban-birds

* Noisy Miner recording by Marc Anderson licenced from wildambience.com

Weekend Birder online:

* Website - weekendbirder.com

* Instagram - @weekend.birder

* Facebook - @weekend.birder

* YouTube - @WeekendBirder

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

Hear a musician reflect on how birds affect life and music. This episode is about the deep connection between nature and music, and how birds provide us with a sense of place.

If anyone can silence a room, it’s South Africa-born and Melbourne-based musician Ruby Gill. Ruby’s arresting lyricism and deadpan wit have already garnered them millions of streams, awards and radio play from Triple J and every major metro station in Australia, to BBC6Music and KCRW over the pond. Known to bring even the most stoic to tears with profound reflections on society and self-awareness, Ruby’s “melancholic lyrical wizardry” has earned the reputation of unmissable, with accolades such as as Sunday Times’ Breaking Act (UK), Emerging Artist of the Year at Port Fairy Folk Festival, nominations for The Australian Music Prize (Mercury equivalent) and Best Folk Work at the Music Victoria Awards, and high praise from NME, CLASH, The Independent and more. Consistent reviews echo Triple J’s Zan Rowe, “excuse me while I scrape myself off the floor.”

Available on YouTube, your podcast app or listen below.

Links:

Ruby’s new album Some Kind of Control is out March 28 2025.

* Ruby’s website - https://rubygill.me/

* Ruby on Facebook - @rubygillmusic

* Ruby on Instagram - @rubymarygill

* Ruby on Twitter/X - @rubymarygill

* Ruby on YouTube - youtube.com/user/rubymarygill

* Bird Song by Cosmo Sheldrake - cosmosheldrake.com/music/birdsong

* Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron and Wine - youtube.com/watch?v=RGVmhrfQqzg

* Blue Jay recording by Dan Lane (XC215532) - xeno-canto.org

* African Paradise Flycatcher recording by Tony Archer (XC603822) - xeno-canto.org

* Hadada Ibis recording by Tony Archer (XC686712) - xeno-canto.org

Weekend Birder online:

* Website - weekendbirder.com

* Instagram - @weekend.birder

* Facebook - @weekend.birder

* YouTube - @WeekendBirder

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