I'm relatively new to birding and photography, but one encounter I’ll never forget was with my first Southern Emu-wren. Over three weeks in July while still working full time, I spent around 50 hours searching early mornings, midday, late afternoons often in the rain, trying everything from camo to just wandering without my camera. It started to feel like a mythical bird, and I began wondering if those who claimed to see it were just lucky or making it up.

Then one day, my mate Beau joined me, keen to spot one himself. We figured two sets of eyes were better than one. We arrived at first light and spent all morning walking the wetlands. Apart from a few Yellow Robins, it was dead quiet.

Discouraged, we returned to the car, chatting at the edge of the wetlands about calling it quits for a while maybe trying again closer to breeding season. And just like that, two Emu-wrens popped up, hopped around for ten magical seconds, then vanished into the samphire.

We were ecstatic. On the drive home, we were already asking, “What should we go after next?”

That experience reshaped my mindset. Whether it takes 30 seconds or 100 hours, the joy is in being out there, setting goals, and staying motivated. After all, this is what we do for fun.

If I had a golden ticket to photograph any bird in the world, I’d head straight to New Zealand’s South Island to capture the destructive yet strikingly beautiful Kea.

I lived in New Zealand in my early twenties, years before I discovered birding or photography. Now, with fresh eyes and a camera in hand, it’s become my dream destination to explore all over again.

Did you know? The Kea (Nestor notabilis) is the world’s only alpine parrot, and one of the smartest. They’ve been seen teaming up to solve puzzles and distracting tourists while partners unzip backpacks or steal food. True mountain masterminds.

In my twenties, nature, photography, and birds weren’t even on my radar my main outlet was playing video games, I even met my wife through gaming nearly ten years ago. But after moving across the country and entering our 30s, we discovered a shared love for being outdoors.

Birding and photography quickly became something we genuinely enjoyed, and more importantly, we realised how much it benefited our physical and mental health. These days, birding is part of our weekly routine. It keeps us active, grounded, and connected not just to nature, but to each other. And best of all, it’s a lot of fun.