Comedian Bill Oddie flies in to shares tales

Bill Oddie, OBE.

English comedian and devoted birdwatcher Bill Oddie, OBE, is heading to Hawke's Bay next week to share tales of his years as a conservationist and winged wildlife watcher.

The 74-year-old, best known for his comedy screen antics as a member of The Goodies alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graham Garden, is calling in at just three New Zealand spots to share his birdwatching tales in a presentation titled Follow That Bird.

After staging it at Wellington's Zealandia Ecosanctuary next Tuesday he will head to Hastings for a Thursday evening show in the Lowe Family Performing Arts Centre at Lindisfarne College.

His final outing will be at the South Sea Hotel in Oban on Stewart Island the following Saturday.

He is also appearing in Auckland tomorrow night as part of the Writers Festival.

Mr Oddie is bringing his unique and entertaining take on ornithology and conservation in association with the Royal Society of New Zealand, the Department of Conservation and Zealandia.

He said he would be re-enacting his lifetime journey from "delinquent egg collector to wrestling with puffins and insulting the Queen", adding that the presentation was suitable for a family audience, "especially those of a nervous disposition".

Mr Oddie has been intrigued with birdlife since he was a youngster. As a teenager he wrote observation reports for the West Midland Bird Club's annual report.

He has written several books about ornithology and conservation and has fronted a string of natural-history documentaries.

- Next Thursday's show starts at 7.30pm with general admission tickets $15, or $10 for Royal Society of New Zealand members, students and under-18s. Book online at royalsociety.org.nz/billoddie