When I was young, I remember seeing a photo of an Andean Cock-of-the-rock in a bird book and being completely fascinated.

Where was its beak?

Why did it have such a large, disc-shaped crest?

And what on earth was a “cock-of-the-rock”?

When I began my bird photography journey, this species went straight to the top of my must-photograph list.

In 2024, we travelled to Colombia and made our way into the Andes, the perfect habitat for these birds, to the little town of Jardín. On the outskirts of town is a well-known Cock-of-the-rock lek, where males gather to perform elaborate displays to attract females.

There, we witnessed up to a dozen males competing, jumping, bowing, and flapping their wings, each trying to outdo the others for the attention of a female.

It was an unforgettable experience, and answered those questions I had all those years ago.

I'm yet to photograph a penguin. So I'm going to say an adventure to the Antarctic regions to see Emperor, King, Gentoo, Chinstrap penguins…as well as the whales, seals (especially Leopard), and other sea birds like Albatross and Petrels. That would be a wildlife lovers ultimate adventure.

We are so fortunate in Australia. Even living in the inner suburbs of our biggest cities, we get to experience so much incredible birdlife.

I’m woken each morning by Laughing Kookaburras (my favourite bird). Throughout the day, we hear the warbling of Australian Magpies, the screech of Rainbow Lorikeets, and the chatter of Noisy Miners. In the evening, we’re treated to the chorus of a flock of Pied Currawongs.

For me, the biggest difference since becoming a ‘birder’ is that I now notice it all, the colour and the song around me, and it’s a daily reminder of how lucky we are to live in a country with such remarkable birdlife.