Ornithologist Seán Ronayne always felt different. Struggling to fit in at school, he found peace in nature, listening to birdsong and exploring the woods with his father and grandfather around their home in Cork. Known by classmates as “Nature Boy,” Seán went on to become an ornithologist, dedicating his life to studying and photographing birds.
At thirty-two, he discovered he was autistic, a revelation that helped him see his uniqueness as a gift—fuelling his passion to raise awareness about the beauty and vulnerability of the natural world.
In Nature Boy: A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging, Seán shares his 2021 mission to sound-record every regularly occurring bird species in Ireland, a journey of discovery and connection that has taken him across the country. This heartfelt book celebrates birds, authenticity, and the healing power of nature.
