About
The story behind Weekend Birder
What is Weekend Birder?
Noticing birds together through science, stories and wonder in everyday places.
Weekend Birder is a podcast, online resource and community focused on Australian birds and birdwatching. Created by Kirsty Costa, it brings together research, storytelling and shared nature experiences to help people notice birds in ordinary places. At its heart, Weekend Birder is about slowing down paying attention and realising there is more going on around us than we might expect.
How did it start?
Weekend Birder began when Kirsty noticed a bird she’d never seen before in her local Melbourne wetlands - a Latham’s Snipe. This migratory shorebird travels each year between Japan and Australia. That discovery revealed how much remarkable birdlife was living quietly in everyday places, unnoticed. Weekend Birder grew from that moment, as a commitment to make birdwatching welcoming and accessible to everyone.
How does it work?
Weekend Birder brings science out of academic spaces and into everyday life. Conversations draw on research, lived experience and storytelling, with a focus on curiosity rather than expertise. The work is guided by respect for different ways of learning and the belief that noticing nature is a skill that grows with time and practice.
Who is it for?
Weekend Birder is for people who are curious about birds, whether they’re just beginning or deepening an existing interest. Our community is inclusive and everyone is welcome.
Who’s behind it?
Kirsty Costa is a science communicator, educator and podcaster working at the intersection of birds, learning and everyday nature. Through Weekend Birder, she brings stories and science together to help people notice the wonder that exists in their own lives. She works alongside scientists, writers, artists, educators and communities to create thoughtful conversations and deepen connection to the living world.