Why Liam Runnalls created a puzzle book all about birds

What inspired you to create Birdle, a puzzle book about birds? Have you always taken an interest in birds?

I’ve been interested in birds from a young age.  My grade four teacher, Mr Stockfeld, made us do a weekly report on a native bird, which I always took very seriously. We were also encouraged to keep a feather collection. I still have the feather collection actually– it’s not in very good condition more than thirty years later, but it’s always meant a lot to me. My favourite feather was one from a kookaburra. 

You’re known for writing crosswords and clues for several outlets including Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Saturday Paper. How did you first get into puzzle-making?

I have been a keen solver since my teenage years, and one of my first 'real' jobs involved proofreading the puzzle page for The Age. From there I was introduced to some crossword setters who encouraged me to try my hand at it myself. I was lucky to land a regular spot when one became available in 2012, and I haven’t looked back.

How do you think solving bird-themed puzzles can enhance a reader's understanding and appreciation of birds?

Birds are such a prominent part of the natural world.

Spotting a bird in the wild is a little like spotting an answer to a riddle – it triggers a hit of dopamine in the brain, which is why birdwatchers and puzzle-doers readily return for more.

How do you balance the difficulty level of the puzzles?

This is one of the more difficult aspects of making puzzles – putting yourself in the mind of the solver. My philosophy is to err on the side of simplicity because a puzzle is always going to seem easier to me. After all, I made it. Sometimes I go back and read puzzles I wrote 10 years ago and I can’t solve them myself. It’s a humbling experience, and it makes me empathetic to solvers.

Do you have a favourite bird species that you featured in the book? If so, what is it and why?

Yes, my favourite bird is the spotted pardalote, which I was sure to feature in the book. I didn’t really know about these tiny birds until I found a couple living in my backyard a few years ago. I’ve looked out for them ever since – they’re surprisingly common.

Is there a particular puzzle in your book that stands out as your favourite? What makes it special to you?

My favourite puzzle is one of the crosswords where I look at different meanings for birds’ names. For instance, crow can also mean 'brag', and dove is a synonym for 'plummeted'.

Where do you get inspiration for puzzle clues? Was it different having one specific theme to stick to?

I enjoy making themed puzzles from time to time. But it was a challenge to stick to a theme for an entire book! My strategy was to find an official list of all Australian birds and sort them alphabetically and by length. I also broke them into components so that I could use parts of a bird’s name in a clue.

How do you envision readers using this book? Do you expect them to do the puzzles in a certain order, or can they choose their own adventure?

People are welcome to do it in any order they please! I think it would be the perfect book to leave in a communal area for family and friends to chip away at when they’re in the mood. 

What was the first puzzle you ever made?

In grade six, my friend and I used to write letters to each other in secret code. The notes would have appeared as nonsense to our teacher; only we could decipher the true message. I’d recommend this to any student wanting to avoid putting anything incriminating in writing.

Has there ever been a puzzle you couldn’t complete?

Plenty – those are my favourite types of puzzles! I would rather stare at an empty crossword grid for 10 minutes than completely solve one in 10 minutes.