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Nature Boy: A journey of birdsong and belonging
'Seán's sensitivity to the natural world captivates the reader' Manchán Magan
'Earnest and uplifting' Irish Times
'Informative, inspiring and insightful' Anja Murray
Seán Ronayne always knew he was different. Nicknamed 'nature boy' by the other kids, as a child he regularly escaped to the woods and coastlines around his home in Cork. The natural world was his happy place and where he discovered his true passion - identifying and understanding birds through their sound and song. This passion would see him find his calling as an ornithologist.
From a near-death experience as a teenager, to his adventures in the Sahara Desert and the jungles of Nepal, coming to terms with an autism diagnosis at the age of thirty‑two and his mission to sound record all the regularly occurring bird species in Ireland (resulting in acclaimed documentary Birdsong), here in Nature Boy Seán takes us on a journey of discovery and wonder.
'Powerful, impassioned and deeply moving, please read this book, now!' Niall Hatch, BirdWatch Ireland
'Earnest and uplifting' Irish Times
'Informative, inspiring and insightful' Anja Murray
Seán Ronayne always knew he was different. Nicknamed 'nature boy' by the other kids, as a child he regularly escaped to the woods and coastlines around his home in Cork. The natural world was his happy place and where he discovered his true passion - identifying and understanding birds through their sound and song. This passion would see him find his calling as an ornithologist.
From a near-death experience as a teenager, to his adventures in the Sahara Desert and the jungles of Nepal, coming to terms with an autism diagnosis at the age of thirty‑two and his mission to sound record all the regularly occurring bird species in Ireland (resulting in acclaimed documentary Birdsong), here in Nature Boy Seán takes us on a journey of discovery and wonder.
'Powerful, impassioned and deeply moving, please read this book, now!' Niall Hatch, BirdWatch Ireland
491 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 2, 2026
Beautiful book and with a fantastic message. Highly recommend the audiobook read by Sean himself.
December 7, 2024
Beautiful. Smart. Full of heart.
Seán’s writing is clear and compelling. His message is so important, and his love for his family and nature is portrayed beautifully.
I’m listening to the birds more closely than ever before as a result of your work Seán! Thank you.
Seán’s writing is clear and compelling. His message is so important, and his love for his family and nature is portrayed beautifully.
I’m listening to the birds more closely than ever before as a result of your work Seán! Thank you.
February 12, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much so that the last chapter had tearing up. Seán is an absolute inspiration and a wonderful spokesperson for the natural Irish world. A fitting book to read this month personally, coinciding with me just recently checking off my 100th bird species sighting (the Red Kite up in the Wicklow mountains!).
It took a few chapters for this book to truly grab me, as there was a lot of repetition in both specific words and general sentiments. Seán really finds his footing as an author as the book goes on, as he himself becomes more comfortable with who he is. The passages where he describes natural scenes and specific bird sightings are enthralling. Well done and congratulations to you and Alba!!
It took a few chapters for this book to truly grab me, as there was a lot of repetition in both specific words and general sentiments. Seán really finds his footing as an author as the book goes on, as he himself becomes more comfortable with who he is. The passages where he describes natural scenes and specific bird sightings are enthralling. Well done and congratulations to you and Alba!!
May 4, 2025
An amazing read, a must really for all fans of nature and Ireland. Seán is an inspiration and should be listened to by all politicians.
The book was extremely easy to read and it was full of heart. I was just expecting to love it because of the birds, but loved it because of his story.
The book was extremely easy to read and it was full of heart. I was just expecting to love it because of the birds, but loved it because of his story.
November 18, 2024
My favourite book I’ve read this year. So wholesome and packed full of all things nature. I loved Seán’s inspiring story where many aspects were very relatable; it’s nice to know we are not alone in feeling out of place in the world.
I am looking forward to following his future projects. I remember going to his talk in Siamsa Tíre and him playing his recordings. Such an enjoyable and fascinating talk. Keep up the good work Seán!
I am looking forward to following his future projects. I remember going to his talk in Siamsa Tíre and him playing his recordings. Such an enjoyable and fascinating talk. Keep up the good work Seán!
June 14, 2025
4.3/5 An incredibly uplifting and endearing book from a very inspiring individual. I love his attitude towards life, it’s very easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom of climate change and biodiversity loss BUT there are ways to reclaim this.
Makes me want to be able to identify more bird species, although I may need an app for this as it’s hard to get a base of knowledge
Makes me want to be able to identify more bird species, although I may need an app for this as it’s hard to get a base of knowledge
July 20, 2025
Beautiful exploration of Irish nature, ornithology and neurodiversity, and the ways they have shaped and defined Seán’s life. Brilliantly written and entertaining, Seán is an inspiration.
November 4, 2024
A beautifully crafted book recalling Sean’s search for a path through his true vocation, ornithology and nature in general, as a means of supporting himself and improving our relationship with our avian brothers while at the same time discovering his own essence. Reawakens an awareness of the extraordinary under our own noses especially in Ireland.
October 16, 2026
This is the second memoir I have read this year written by someone about my own age, the other being My Greatest Race by Ciara Mageean. This one is unusual in that Seán Ronayne's life is not really all that unusual. He's not a retired athlete or statesperson or celebrity, just an ordinary guy with an extraordinary fascination for birds and bird songs. Like everyone, there are episodes in his life that are unique and helped shape the man he has become - the most striking of which was a near-death experience brought on by meningitis in 2006. But other elements, like finding his feet at school, not really fitting in with others, struggling to relate to girls and get a girlfriend, wrestling with college courses, and working out a career path, are all pretty much universal experiences.
He writes very well though, with some lovely passages and memorable phrasings, my favourite of which was his description of the sensory overload of the Barcelona urban soundscape raging in his head "like forgotten pocket keys bashing and clanging around in a washing machine". And his narration of how he met his girlfriend is straight out of an impossible Hollywood rom-com, with the awkward socially inept guy being pursued by a gorgeous outgoing blonde who overcomes his shyness by bluntly deciding that they would go on a date before going in for a kiss. One of the standout stories in his biography is when he and his partner Alba went on safari in Nepal and came extraordinarily close to death, having both been charged by a wild rhino and crossed the urine-scented path of a wild tiger in long grass.
The most striking thing about Seán for me, though, is the passion and warmth he has when talking about birds, something I was instantly drawn to when I first saw the clips of him on the Tommy Tiernan show. I love when people are unapologetically nerdy, even more so when their interests overlap with mine. I started following him on Instagram and became inspired to learn and appreciate more about the natural world around me. I have been using a plant identification app on my phone for a few years - in the past year I added the Merlin Bird ID app to help recognise bird vocalisations when I'm out in the woods. I still have a long way to go, but Seán has certainly been a catalyst in getting me going.
Some of the best books I have read in recent years are the ones that pull back the curtain on the secrets and dramas of the natural world, for example The Hidden Life of Trees and The Secret Life of Animals by Peter Wohlleben, Endless Forms Most Beautiful by Sean B. Carroll, and Mama's Last Hug by Franz de Waal. Nature Boy has elements of these books too, when it talks about magpies arriving from England, Sean's experience tracking down the elusive wallcreeper in the Catalunyan wilderness, his discovery from analysing his recordings that a semi-palmated plover had landed in Ireland (something never known before), and most notably in the way he relates that whitethroat mimicry can reveal their migration paths from sub-Saharan Africa up to Ireland.
There are a few shortcomings, though. While his descriptions of birds are lyrical and glory in the finer details of their wing feather structures and markings and their iridescent hues, the lack of photographs is unfortunate. Seán himself talks about his efforts in wildlife photography - why not include these photos as colour plates? The images that are there are greyscale copies of illustrations by Robert Vaughan, which, while fine pictures in their own right, don't really do service to the wealth of birds and differentiation characteristics treated of in the text. I noticed in the Acknowledgements that he thanks the photographers whose photos were used in the book, so I assume there must have been colour images in the original hardback. It's a shame they didn't survive the move to paperback. Also, I counted at least a dozen typos in the book, an unusual quality lapse for a big publishing company like Hachette.
I was very happy to see on Instagram that Seán has started a podcast - audio media is really the best way to convey stories about birdsong. I look forward to hearing more stories and discoveries about Irish wildlife from him in the future.
He writes very well though, with some lovely passages and memorable phrasings, my favourite of which was his description of the sensory overload of the Barcelona urban soundscape raging in his head "like forgotten pocket keys bashing and clanging around in a washing machine". And his narration of how he met his girlfriend is straight out of an impossible Hollywood rom-com, with the awkward socially inept guy being pursued by a gorgeous outgoing blonde who overcomes his shyness by bluntly deciding that they would go on a date before going in for a kiss. One of the standout stories in his biography is when he and his partner Alba went on safari in Nepal and came extraordinarily close to death, having both been charged by a wild rhino and crossed the urine-scented path of a wild tiger in long grass.
The most striking thing about Seán for me, though, is the passion and warmth he has when talking about birds, something I was instantly drawn to when I first saw the clips of him on the Tommy Tiernan show. I love when people are unapologetically nerdy, even more so when their interests overlap with mine. I started following him on Instagram and became inspired to learn and appreciate more about the natural world around me. I have been using a plant identification app on my phone for a few years - in the past year I added the Merlin Bird ID app to help recognise bird vocalisations when I'm out in the woods. I still have a long way to go, but Seán has certainly been a catalyst in getting me going.
Some of the best books I have read in recent years are the ones that pull back the curtain on the secrets and dramas of the natural world, for example The Hidden Life of Trees and The Secret Life of Animals by Peter Wohlleben, Endless Forms Most Beautiful by Sean B. Carroll, and Mama's Last Hug by Franz de Waal. Nature Boy has elements of these books too, when it talks about magpies arriving from England, Sean's experience tracking down the elusive wallcreeper in the Catalunyan wilderness, his discovery from analysing his recordings that a semi-palmated plover had landed in Ireland (something never known before), and most notably in the way he relates that whitethroat mimicry can reveal their migration paths from sub-Saharan Africa up to Ireland.
There are a few shortcomings, though. While his descriptions of birds are lyrical and glory in the finer details of their wing feather structures and markings and their iridescent hues, the lack of photographs is unfortunate. Seán himself talks about his efforts in wildlife photography - why not include these photos as colour plates? The images that are there are greyscale copies of illustrations by Robert Vaughan, which, while fine pictures in their own right, don't really do service to the wealth of birds and differentiation characteristics treated of in the text. I noticed in the Acknowledgements that he thanks the photographers whose photos were used in the book, so I assume there must have been colour images in the original hardback. It's a shame they didn't survive the move to paperback. Also, I counted at least a dozen typos in the book, an unusual quality lapse for a big publishing company like Hachette.
I was very happy to see on Instagram that Seán has started a podcast - audio media is really the best way to convey stories about birdsong. I look forward to hearing more stories and discoveries about Irish wildlife from him in the future.
May 19, 2026
A lovely book that made me look at nature differently.
I thought this book would be an autobiography, but it’s only about 50% memoir: the rest is closer to a bird guidebook (their appearance, their call, their habitat, their migration routes, their habits, etc.) In another book, I would have found the mix of genres annoying, but the author makes it clear that his life and his passion for birds are too closely intertwined to be told separately. His enthusiasm is communicative, as is the way he passionately advocates for nature and urges his readers to reconnect with it (but without patronizing or shaming them).
I’ve started looking at birds and wildlife a lot more closely when walking around town, and I catch myself smiling at noticing nice little things more and more often. I’m also teaching myself and my kids to identify birds, and we’re all having a tremendous amount of fun whipping out the Merlin app and placing our little bets.
From a purely literal point of view, this is not a 5-star read, but it’s made such a profound impact on the way I see the world that I can’t possibly give it less.
Side note : I listened to the audiobook version, which is my favourite thing for non-fiction (especially when narrated by the author), but for this specific book, I find it’s a double-edged sword.
On the negative side : 1) a huge missed opportunity to include the actual audio of bird calls instead of just hearing their description. That would have been so cool! 2) Seán Ronayne (the author/narrator) speaks very fast at the beginning of the book, and it can sometimes be a bit hard to follow.
On the positive side, Seán has a nice voice, and his emotion is palpable in many passages. You can hear him holding back tears as he narrates his near-death experience and later reconnecting with the doctor who saved his life, which made these moments feel very special. (And you can also hear the smile in his voice every time he mentions his partner and/or a particularly nice bird, which is beyond adorable.)
Side note to the side note : if you’re thinking of listening to the audiobook like I did, please do it with your phone/computer easily accessible. I listened to the majority of this book while driving, and it was a really poor choice on my part, because I couldn’t pause and google the specific birds that were mentioned to see what they looked like.
I thought this book would be an autobiography, but it’s only about 50% memoir: the rest is closer to a bird guidebook (their appearance, their call, their habitat, their migration routes, their habits, etc.) In another book, I would have found the mix of genres annoying, but the author makes it clear that his life and his passion for birds are too closely intertwined to be told separately. His enthusiasm is communicative, as is the way he passionately advocates for nature and urges his readers to reconnect with it (but without patronizing or shaming them).
I’ve started looking at birds and wildlife a lot more closely when walking around town, and I catch myself smiling at noticing nice little things more and more often. I’m also teaching myself and my kids to identify birds, and we’re all having a tremendous amount of fun whipping out the Merlin app and placing our little bets.
From a purely literal point of view, this is not a 5-star read, but it’s made such a profound impact on the way I see the world that I can’t possibly give it less.
Side note : I listened to the audiobook version, which is my favourite thing for non-fiction (especially when narrated by the author), but for this specific book, I find it’s a double-edged sword.
On the negative side : 1) a huge missed opportunity to include the actual audio of bird calls instead of just hearing their description. That would have been so cool! 2) Seán Ronayne (the author/narrator) speaks very fast at the beginning of the book, and it can sometimes be a bit hard to follow.
On the positive side, Seán has a nice voice, and his emotion is palpable in many passages. You can hear him holding back tears as he narrates his near-death experience and later reconnecting with the doctor who saved his life, which made these moments feel very special. (And you can also hear the smile in his voice every time he mentions his partner and/or a particularly nice bird, which is beyond adorable.)
Side note to the side note : if you’re thinking of listening to the audiobook like I did, please do it with your phone/computer easily accessible. I listened to the majority of this book while driving, and it was a really poor choice on my part, because I couldn’t pause and google the specific birds that were mentioned to see what they looked like.
February 23, 2025
I heard of Sean through an interview he did on a podcast I listen to. I then ran into this book at a bookstore (Tertulia) during a weekend visit to Westport Ireland and my interest was piqued. As a read, it is pretty raw and simple, and not in a good way. However, as a story, it is quite wonderful. What do I mean by this? While reading the book, I struggled many times with the repetitiveness, the lack of depth, and the overly simple and single dimensioned descriptions- specifically in the first half of the book. However, once finished, I found myself thinking about Sean’s journey and what he has been able to accomplish for quite a while after. It also had me looking at birds very differently during my most recent trip in Morocco- which coincidentally plays an important role in the story! Keep up the inspiring work Sean!
December 16, 2025
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t originally sold on this book, I’m not the biggest nature seeker or bird enthusiast, but picked it up on the Audible deals this month for my husband, but after about a week, and realising that I enjoyed Chloe Dalton’s Raising Hare, curiosity got the best of me and I gave it a listen.
I definitely think this book has been played down, misinterpreted and undersold or I just wasn’t listening to the right reviews. Yes of course it’s packed to the brim with bird content, but it’s more than that. It’s a book of a dawning realisation, a book of forgiveness and late diagnosis. It’s tender, it’s specific but also so funny at times. He hits the nail on the head and opens our eyes to his world and ours.
Definitely recommend!
I definitely think this book has been played down, misinterpreted and undersold or I just wasn’t listening to the right reviews. Yes of course it’s packed to the brim with bird content, but it’s more than that. It’s a book of a dawning realisation, a book of forgiveness and late diagnosis. It’s tender, it’s specific but also so funny at times. He hits the nail on the head and opens our eyes to his world and ours.
Definitely recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2026
Emotional. Important. Amazing.
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Seán, and I couldn't help but get teary-eyed as Seán told stories of his life growing up, near death experiences, and struggles with autism. He recounts numerous times in his life in which he has turned to nature for its mental healing powers, something I find myself doing as well.
It was an interesting listen, and I finished with a great respect for this man's commitment to his passion and the public awareness he has managed to attain for our special native birds.
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Seán, and I couldn't help but get teary-eyed as Seán told stories of his life growing up, near death experiences, and struggles with autism. He recounts numerous times in his life in which he has turned to nature for its mental healing powers, something I find myself doing as well.
It was an interesting listen, and I finished with a great respect for this man's commitment to his passion and the public awareness he has managed to attain for our special native birds.
December 12, 2024
I was maybe expecting more about birdwatchers and treehuggers, or a lot more about the actual birds, but instead the book is just an autobiography about a regular, dead-on guy who happens to be an ornithologist. The best parts of the book are when Seán is gushing about either a personal breakthrough or an experience in nature he is having, and my main takeaway from the book is that a life devoted to nature is exceptional enough to constitute a whole book celebrating it.
January 18, 2026
100% recommend the audiobook of this - you get to hear some of the bird sound recordings and Seán's enthusiasm shines through so wonderfully!
I feel like I learnt quite a bit about Irish nature and I've definitely taken more notice of the bird life I see when I'm walking around town. I already quite liked magpies but now I say hello to them whenever I see them!
Seán's autobiography weaves through the book and I really enjoyed it, especially as a fellow autistic.
I really loved this!
I feel like I learnt quite a bit about Irish nature and I've definitely taken more notice of the bird life I see when I'm walking around town. I already quite liked magpies but now I say hello to them whenever I see them!
Seán's autobiography weaves through the book and I really enjoyed it, especially as a fellow autistic.
I really loved this!
July 17, 2026
Very Enjoyable book by a man who reminds me of myself a bit...He's a curly-haired man from a town on the banks of Cork Harbour who loves being out in nature, encountered a rhino in Nepal and went hiking in a Spanish-speaking country without enough water but lived to tell the tale.
He's also a bit awkward socially which I also relate to.
Even if you don't have relatable life experiences you should still find much to enjoy and be inspired by his great love of nature.
He's also a bit awkward socially which I also relate to.
Even if you don't have relatable life experiences you should still find much to enjoy and be inspired by his great love of nature.
January 13, 2025
I loved this book so much. Sean is such a wonderful example of a young man who follows his passion and values through. I would hope others would be empowered by his wonderful story to be confident in their own personal passions rather than following the societal norms. This such an uplifting book. I would highly recommend this book.
November 4, 2025
A really touching story of how the natural world can heal all negativity and doubt within a person when they submit wholly to it.
Seán's commitment and passion for nature and wildlife is so inspiring and cautiously optimistic, helping to guide others on a path of environmental awareness and to finding the pleasure in the great outdoors.
Seán's commitment and passion for nature and wildlife is so inspiring and cautiously optimistic, helping to guide others on a path of environmental awareness and to finding the pleasure in the great outdoors.
June 19, 2026
A really good story told with honesty and warmth. This and the birdsong documentary on BBC are well worth reading and watching. I will note that the prose is unadorned which is the only thing that holds the book back from being a truly great read but the author is clearly a talented listener with a unique way about him for absorbing and connecting with the world around him. Read and be inspired!
December 4, 2024
Couldn't recommend this book more. Seán's life story is so interesting and he intertwines it beautifully with amazing stories about nature. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed his narration. Thanks Seán 🙏
January 3, 2025
Gorgeous story about finding your own way in the world being true to yourself. An absolute call to return to nature and respect it but also to appreciate the wonders it can do for all of us.
January 26, 2025
Great read, nice to pick up and read a few pages every day. Genuine, heart warming, told with humour. Great insight to irish nature and human interactions to help and hinder. Cobh born author
February 28, 2025
Revived my Goodreads! Excellent book and an outcry for a change in our nation's behaviour towards our natural wildlife.
June 26, 2025
Excellent
August 18, 2025
Gorgeous book.
February 21, 2026
beautiful and inspiring, had me smiling from ear to ear and tearing up recalling my own first encounters with nature.
March 22, 2026
Loved the documentary and Seán's story and enthusiasm was enjoyable. Some parts were quite repetitive which I felt could've been edited out, but loved the additional species info in each chapter.
May 23, 2026
Savage read from start to finish. Looking forward to watching documentary now and the next book!
June 27, 2026
Authentic and impassioned. (But a bit clunky.)
August 1, 2026
Un joli livre et un beau parcours personnel qui redonne espoir. Vive les oiseaux !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews