I love Magpies because they're very Newcastle, and very much a part of my working class upbringing - my Gran used to live by the Magpie poem - and so yeah, they're very much sort of rooted in my childhood. Magpies make me think of home and family.

I also like red macaws (guacamayas) I saw them in Mexico, and stayed at a resort dedicated to their conservation. They are very beautiful birds.



Since being in Australia, I am always amazed at the birds I see here. The cockatoos which fly around freely and in huuuuuge groups. I get lovebirds in my garden occasionally and they are stunning little things.

I really like the yellow tail black cocaktoo that sometimes hang around - they are smurfing noisy though. You will know when they're around.