STARTING SOON:
Listening to the Land
NSW Central Coast Bird Language Retreat
New retreat dates for 2026/27 coming soon
Location: Private retreat property – Palm Grove NSW
After our autumn retreat was sadly rained out, I’ve now rescheduled this wonderful retreat for early spring when conditions are not only incredibly birdy (it’s nesting time baby!) but also reliably dry!
I’m imagining us sitting on the sandy creek bank, warming our haunches in a patch of sun-dappled forest, listening to the vibrant voices of excited and randy songbirds, with cool evenings sitting by a huge outside fire! Does that sound like something you could cope with?
The retreat is situated on a stunning private property on the NSW Central Coast, where we camp amongst the tubby wombats, clear running streams and reliably abundant birdlife. The property has everything we need – shady creek-side camping, large undercover teaching space, beautiful timber amenities (with hot showers), a fire pit under the massive red cedar and so, so many birds.
And of course, we’ve already booked Jeevi, the Laughing Chef, to cook delicious, freshly made lunches and dinners for us all!
As with all my retreats, the group size is strictly limited to foster a close-knit experience and ensure everyone has the opportunity for profound personal learning. Make sure to book early be part of this authentically deep nature connection experience, we’d love to see you there.
“The hardest thing of all to see is what is really there” – JA Baker (The Peregrine)
What will this workshop do for me? (Good question!)
For the vast majority of the human journey as a species we have been highly attuned to the natural world around us. Every one of our bodily senses operated at their upper limit as we paid the closest attention to the weather, animal behaviour, insect hatchings, flowering and fruiting events, seasonal indicators, each other and of course, birds. Birds taught us how to avoid predators, and for some people they still do. This wasn’t a hobby. This wasn’t about keeping a personal best list of species. This was, quite literally about staying alive.
Fast forward to the present and most of us have forgotten how to pay attention to nature. We no longer hear the voices of birds, nor do we appreciate or care for their meaning. But we should, for although most of us no longer fear being torn apart by massive carnivores, our brains and sensory systems still yearn for the connections of the old ways. And over the last two decades an array of scientific evidence across multiple disciplines has demonstrated how important nature connectedness is for maintaining optimum human health and wellbeing.
Learning bird language can, quite literally, extend your life, reduce stress, improve brain functioning, aid in wound healing, extend attention span, relieve tension, mitigate eco-grief, elevate your sense of vitality and purpose, as well as bring you deep, genuine joy through deepening your connection to the land we live on. Oh, and you’ll make new (feathered and non-feathered) friends along the way!
This retreat introduces you to a practical understanding and experience of bird language. Through engaging teaching sessions and time spent paying attention to the forest, you will develop and expand your nature-observation and sensory awareness skills. The experiences and learning offered at this retreat will reprogram your brain to an older way of being in the world. Through active listening to the many voices of birds we track the movement of predators across the landscape and notice the subtle changes in seasonal transitions.
This is a unique opportunity to dramatically expand the scope and detail of what you are capable of noticing, to truly see what is really there.
Presented by bird language specialist, wildlife naturalist and writer Andrew Turbill, this is a retreat for anyone interested in going deeper in their personal relationship to birds and wild nature. After decades of doing his “dirt time” of patient watching, listening and learning, Andrew has gleaned powerful insights into how birds offer us a special opportunity for really paying attention to the world around us. His teaching approach is centred around a love for the Earth and developing a ‘curious mind’ for opening pathways of new learning. These are critical skills on our journey to moving from “nature tourist” to “nature sentinel”.
Likewise, it is a wonderful way to connect and have fun with others who value this kind of activity and learning. We will spend the time together in a village atmosphere sharing adventures, meals, stories, and curiosity at a secluded private property surrounded by trees, creeks, campfire, starry skies and abundant wildlife.
The skills and insights acquired in this workshop will fundamentally change the way you interact with birds and the natural world and can be readily applied in an urban-based natural setting as effectively as in wilderness. Every birdsong will become an invitation to listen, look around and learn. Every squawk will remind you we’re not alone in this world. Your friends will be amazed as you suddenly break off mid-sentence at work, dash outside and seemingly by magic “discover” a python resting in a nearby tree…or watch a falcon jet across the skyline.
Come join us to learn the magic of bird language!
The 2024 retreat was a HUGE success so we advise booking early to secure a spot.
NSW Central Coast- Bird Language 2025 Spring Retreat Dates
Starting: 4pm, Thurs 28th August
Finishing: 2pm, Sun 31st August
Cost –
Standard Adult – $695
Child (8 – 16yrs) – $590
Includes:
- Daily facilitation, teaching and mentorship by Andrew Turbill
- Additional mentoring and assistance from Eva and a crew of awesome ‘flock guides’
- 3 nights camping out under the stars at an amazing private retreat property, Palm Grove
- All lunch and dinner meals catered for (you just need to provide your own breaky and snacks)
- Limited to 30 participants to create a more intimate course and learning environment.
Accommodation
Participants bring their own camp set up, but we supply a communal, under-cover gathering area, toilets, access to water and other stuff.
Requirements
- You should be comfortable being in nature, including sitting on your own in the forest for up to an hour at a time.
- No previous birding experience required (this is not a ‘twitcher’ event)
- There is no minimum age however all attendees must be able to sit quietly and pay attention for extended periods in both the teaching space and the forest. The retreat is therefore not suitable for infants or young children under 8 years.
Further info
Contact Andrew at info@andrewthebirdguy.com
CANCELLATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS
| Cancellation timeframe (days prior to start date of retreat) | Cancellation fee |
| > 45 days written notice | 15% of ticket price |
| 45 – 15 days written notice | 50% of ticket price |
| < 15 days written notice | 100% of ticket price |
Additional notes –
- In instances of a ‘frustrated contract’ under the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012, meaning it is impossible to perform or carry out our contract due to events beyond all parties’ control, the ticket holder will receive a full refund minus a 10% admin fee. Tickets can also be transferred towards a future retreat date within 12 months.
- Examples of a frustrated contract situation may include a Government declared lockdown or border closure or natural disaster. A contract is not frustrated if the situation means it is only inconvenient, difficult or expensive to carry out.
- In the instance of a retreat cancellation being made by Andrew-the-bird-guy, ticketholders will be refunded their full ticket price, or have their ticket transferred to a future event.