Bird Watching or Bird Therapy?
Join Emma as she interviews bird specialist, Melissa Whitby on bird ecology, bird protection, and how bird watching might even be called ‘bird therapy’. Melissa has spent much of her life travelling through Australia and overseas learning about birds, contributing to scientific data, and volunteering for various bird organisations. She says that any interactions with wildlife are a privilege and it is important that we learn about them so we know how best to protect them. Mel gives some great tips on how you can support birds and that “we all have something to contribute.” Birdwatching can also improve our listening, patience, communication skills, and wellbeing. If you are keen to become a bird watcher, bird enthusiast, or a bird specialist then this episode is for you!
“Use the talents you possess.
The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
~ HENRY VAN DYKE ~
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
Learn about some of the birds Mel mentioned in this episode:
The nocturnal, ground dwelling bird, the Night Parrot, once thought to be extinct!
The Brown Kiwi bird of New Zealand.
Charismatic, flightless Kagu bird of New Caledonia.
Linguist of the forest, the Albert’s Lyrebird.
Read about the Black Currawong in her wildlife column for the Canungra Times here.
Learn about the East Asian-Australasian Flyway that supports over 600 different species of migratory birds here.
Contribute to science Download iNaturalist for free, start snapping photos of your local birds and contribute to science across the globe.
Download a free bird watching app, Merlin ID.
To connect, head to:
Instagram @natureinspiredpodcast
