Seán Ronayne has proved himself to be as resilient as nature itself, successfully navigating through several formidable challenges in his life including surviving a severe bout of septicaemia and meningitis in his teenage years, dealing with an autism diagnosis in his early thirties, and endeavouring all his life to find his place in the world – a place he only found amongst nature.
Ronayne observes that humans are quick to form misconceptions about nature, exemplified by the widely-held and misplaced belief that magpies have a penchant for shiny objects. His writings dismiss this myth citing a 2014 study, and suggest that it has been born from biased human observations, which conveniently ignore instances when magpies choose non-shiny, non-valuable items.
Despite being subject to misconceptions due to his social awkwardness, the Cork native has now become the subject of admiration. Many are now discovering solace in his work of identifying birds and deciphering their sounds and songs. Ronayne’s unique personality hasn’t deterred him from pursuing his passion for ornithology, or from undertaking an ambitious project to capture the sounds of all of Ireland’s recurring bird species – a task nearly complete with just three of almost 200 birds yet to be recorded. This project became the topic of the acclaimed documentary, Birdsong, earlier this year.
Following the documentary’s success, Ronayne penned ‘Nature Boy’ – an inspiring combination of biography, guidebook, travelling narrative, and a call to arms for conservation. The book comes alive with stunning photos and artwork by Robert Vaughan.
In ‘Nature Boy’, beyond imparting extensive knowledge about birds, Ronayne courageously shares his self-doubts. Despite being perceived as successful by many, he hopes that readers can intimately connect with his reflections. This candidness is reminiscent of the insights shared by young writer, Dara McAnulty, author of ‘Diary of a Naturalist’.
Echoing Roger Deakin’s sentiment in ‘Notes from Walnut Tree Farm’ that great strength can originate from humble beginnings; birds have provided a framework for Ronayne to build a life that he is now content with and to establish a place he calls his own. He graciously invites readers into his world, sharing his experiences and knowledge.