By Danielle Davey
With tongue-in-cheek wit, comedy writer and self-identified ‘bird nerd’ Sean Dooley notes the distinguishing characteristics to look out for in a developing birdwatcher. “The juvenile starts to form a growth around its neck,” he says, looping a pair of binoculars over his head. It’s a description that perfectly applies to his younger self.
His fascination with feathered species started early; by the late 1970s, he was commonly sighted at the Seaford Wetlands, a short bike ride from home. A primary school teacher introduced him to the swamp’s ecosystem during a school excursion, sparking a lifelong passion for birds.
“Every kid needs a swamp,” Sean says, reflecting on his own upbringing. For an increasingly screen-bound generation, the need for a habitat where children can be curious, explore the natural environment, encounter wildlife and get muddy is perhaps more pertinent than ever.
If anyone can make birdwatching appeal to people of all ages, it’s Sean. The Peninsula Grammar alumnus recalls the thrill of mastering insider knowledge as a teenager. “Sitting on a fence at school one day, I spotted a glossy ibis – quite rare in southeast Victoria. Knowing exactly what it was gave me an adrenaline rush.”
Since then, he has identified thousands of species, setting the Australian national birdwatching record in 2002 by spotting 703 species in 12 months. The previous record was set in 1989 by Englishman Mike Entwistle, who spotted 633 species. Evoking the traditional sporting rivalry, Sean says: “It felt like reclaiming the Ashes.”
The achievement confirmed his status as a ‘twitcher’ – a goal-oriented birdwatcher willing to travel long distances to spot rare birds. Describing the subculture of hardcore bird enthusiasts, the late Bill Oddie said: “Birdwatchers are tense, competitive, selfish, shifty, dishonest, distrusting, boorish, pedantic, unsentimental, arrogant and – above all – envious.” The quote is funnier when you learn that Oddie himself was a twitcher.
Sean similarly leans into self-deprecating humour; this humility is what makes him so likeable. In addition to writing for popular comedy TV shows including Spicks and Specks, Full Frontal and Hamish & Andy, he has written three books. The Big Twitch tells the story of his record-setting journey and is chock-full of funny anecdotes.
Formerly the editor of Australian Birdlife magazine, he is currently the senior adviser for public relations at BirdLife Australia – a great ambassador for the organisation.
This month is packed with bird-focused activities. On October 18, Sean is scheduled to appear as part of the What Bird is That! event hosted by BirdLife Mornington Peninsula at Coolart Wetlands and Homestead.
Then the Aussie Bird Count takes place from October 19-25. Aussies are encouraged to spend 20 minutes watching and recording the birds they see from wherever they are. There’s no need for expert knowledge; the free Aussie Bird Count app features a ‘bird finder’ to help identify birds, and the data collected helps BirdLife Australia track bird populations.
Who knows? It could be the catalyst for the twitchers of tomorrow. For more information, visit www.aussiebirdcount.org.au
