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Juan van den Heever is a wildlife photographer, birder and conservationist who has made quite a name for himself in the world of wildlife photography. Having been named a runner-up in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and had one of his photographs featured on the cover of a David Attenborough book, Juan has already achieved some incredible milestones in his career. But his journey doesn’t stop behind the camera! Juan has recently moved into the world of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), taking his passion for the natural world into the field of conservation and environmental management. In this episode of the SnA Youth Birders podcast, we chat about his journey so far, his experiences as a wildlife photographer, and what it’s like to have your work recognised on the international stage. We also explore his move into EIAs and what this career path looks like for young people passionate about the environment. There’s plenty to unpack in this episode, from photography and conservation to finding your place in the world of wildlife — so settle in and enjoy! Spring Fling Challenge Link: https://www.birdlasser.com/private/events/lyl2026 Socials: Instagram- Juan: https://www.instagram.com/juanvandenheever_photography/ SnA Youth Birders: @SA_Youthbirders Tristan: @tspurway.wildlife Youtube- Tristan: https://www.youtube.com/@spurofthewild?sub_confirmation=1 Website- Tristan: tspurwaywildlife.com Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show:

In this episode of The Birding Life Podcast, I sit down with Barry Forbes for a conversation about sound recording and the way it can completely change how we experience birds. Rather than a formal interview, this episode is a relaxed discussion about Barry’s journey into birding, how he became interested in recording bird sounds, and what he has learnt along the way. We chat about how sound recording can improve your ability to recognise and remember bird calls, how it encourages you to slow down in the field, and how it can change the way you approach birding altogether. Barry also shares some of the lessons he learnt during the Big Year of African Sound workshop, including mistakes he was making before, practical recording tips, and some of the things that helped improve his recordings. We also look at recording with a phone compared with using a dedicated recorder and microphone, Barry’s editing process, some of his favourite recordings, and moments where sound recording has helped him discover something new about a bird. Of course, we also touch on the Big Year of African Sound and the incredible role it has played in getting more birders across Africa to start recording and contributing bird sounds. Whether you already record bird sounds or you have only ever thought about giving it a try, this episode is really about learning to listen a little more closely and discovering how much more there is to hear when we are out birding. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show: Big Year of African Sound Website http://www.africansounds.org/ Barry's eBird profile https://ebird.org/profile/MzU3MzQ5Ng Adam's eBird profile https://ebird.org/profile/MzI1MzIzOA

With the chaos of putting together the final bits and pieces for the YWP Exhibition later this month, Gabby found time for a quick catch-up with a familiar face to the Birding Life, Joshua Winter. It’s been a busy year for Josh too. While there may have been fewer wildlife trips than usual, he’s spent plenty of time in the field, gaining hands-on experience working with wild animals in the Waterberg and on the outskirts of Johannesburg as he continues his journey into veterinary science. In this episode, Josh shares some of the wildlife work he’s been involved in, what happens behind the scenes when working with wild animals, the experiences that have stood out most, and how getting closer to the practical side of wildlife conservation has changed the way he sees the natural world. We also catch up on his recent trip to Mapungubwe, talk birding, photography and life in the field, and hear his advice for young people dreaming of following a similar path into veterinary science Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza

In this week's episode we are going back to a project that we first spoke about right at the beginning of the year, the Big Year of African Sounds. The idea behind the project is simple, but incredibly important. Africa has some of the most remarkable birdlife in the world, but when it comes to sound recordings, many of our species are still poorly represented in major sound libraries. So this year, birders across the continent have been encouraged to get out into the field, press record, and help build a much stronger library of African bird sounds. And a lot has happened since we first spoke about the project. The number of recordings coming in has been impressive, training events have taken place across the year, including a recent event at Zaagkuilsdrift, and changes to Merlin and eBird have made it much easier for ordinary birders to get their recordings into the system. But we are not at the end of the year yet. So today I am joined again by John Kinghorn, Avitourism Manager at BirdLife South Africa, to look at how the Big Year of African Sounds has gone so far, what they have learned, where the gaps still are, and what birders can still do during these final few months of 2026. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show: Big Year of African Sound website http://www.africansounds.org/

Tristan is the host of the SnA Youth Birders podcast and forms a core part of the Admin team of the SnA Youth Birders group itself. He is a rising star on the social media front and aims to be a bird show host and a conservation personality one day. He is an experienced birder with many years under the belt- guiding both privately and for Birdlife South Africa. He is well known for his exceptional bird call ID skills and his love of having a million different hobbies going on at once. Tristan recently visited Uganda and has been sharing some of his stories and posts across his social media-platform. We run through beginner bird call ID, what to expect on the bird front with the crazy El Nino coming and what camera to choose on a budget. There are loads of things he talks about in this episode so be prepared to be entertained. Spring Fling Challenge Link: https://www.birdlasser.com/private/events/lyl2026 Socials: Instagram- Mikeli: @mikeli_bass_photography SnA Youth Birders: @SA_Youthbirders Tristan: @tspurway.wildlife Youtube- Tristan: https://www.youtube.com/@spurofthewild?sub_confirmation=1 Website- Tristan: tspurwaywildlife.com Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza

If you are a birder from KwaZulu Natal, you will probably know Mount Moreland. During summer, an estimated three million Barn Swallows gather there to roost in the reedbeds, creating one of the great birding spectacles in the province. But Mount Moreland is also an important wetland supporting a much wider range of wildlife. What makes the story even more interesting is that this enormous concentration of birds sits right next to King Shaka International Airport. That creates an unusual challenge. How do we better understand the movements of millions of birds around a busy airport, protect those birds, and at the same time reduce the risk of bird strikes? That is where the King Shaka Bird Radar Project comes in. My guests today are Matthew Wilkinson, an MSc candidate at the University of KwaZulu Natal, and Dr Cameron Cormac, a postdoctoral researcher at UKZN. Together with the wider research team, they are studying how birds use the airspace around the airport and how technology can help us understand those movements in far greater detail. The radar can detect bird movement, altitude, size categories, whether birds are moving individually or in flocks, and it stores huge amounts of information that researchers can begin to use to understand patterns over time. So today we are going to talk about Mount Moreland, Barn Swallows, bird strikes, radar, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and what this technology could eventually mean not only for King Shaka, but potentially for airports and bird conservation much further afield. Matthew and Cameron, welcome to The Birding Life Podcast. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza

What happens when three young scientists with a shared fascination for the natural world come together? You get ZooLogic ZA. In this episode, Gabby sits down with Devon, Ross and Strijdom to talk wildlife, science, conservation and the curiosity that keeps pulling them deeper into the natural world. From rhino research and snake handling to insects, butterflies and the stories hidden in the ecosystems around us, the conversation explores their individual journeys as well as what brought ZooLogic together. It’s a fun, fascinating conversation with three young people proving that science doesn’t have to stay behind laboratory doors. Sometimes it’s muddy, unpredictable, slightly chaotic and right out there in the wild. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show:

This week's episode is a little bit different, and a lot of fun. My guest is Themba Robin, a South African comedian, content creator, actor, MC and voice artist, known for his satirical takes on everyday South African life and for finding humour in the things most of us walk straight past. And that is part of what makes this conversation so interesting. Birders are a very particular bunch. We have our habits, our obsessions, our strange little routines, and sometimes it takes someone from outside the birding world to point out just how funny some of it actually is. So in this episode, Themba and I have a bit of fun with the birding community. We chat about what he has noticed about birders, what we take too seriously, and whether he is slowly becoming one of us. We also talk about the more serious side of his growing connection with birds and conservation, including his work with BirdLife South Africa, his role in the inaugural Call of the Hadeda at the 2026 South African Bird Fair, and how humour can be used to get people to care about nature in a different way. We also chat about his time in Chobe with Pangolin Safaris, his experience using the Sony RX10 V, and whether photography has changed the way he looks at birds and wildlife. It is a fun conversation, but there is also a really interesting thread running through it about how people connect with birds, how we make birding feel more welcoming, and whether laughter can actually help us care more.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show: Themba Robin Instagram and Facebook BirdLife South Africa https://birdlife.org.za/

Anton is well-known for his incredible Big Birding Year in 2019 where he managed to see over 800 bird species. Today we sit down and look back at that big year- his highs, his lows, his lifers and his dips. Anton shares with us how he raised money for White-winged Flufftail conservation whilst managing to fund his very own big year. Anton gives advice for youngsters potentially looking to do their own big year and for those looking to become better birders. We also look at the exciting SnA Youth Birders Newsletter coming out in October which will be filled with loads of fantastic articles. Finally we have a quick chat about the SnA Youth Birder’s Spring Fling Challenge- including all the prizes up for grabs and our incredible sponsors. Spring Fling Challenge Link: https://www.birdlasser.com/private/events/lyl2026 Socials: Instagram- Anton: @bird_the_world SnA Youth Birders: @SA_Youthbirders Tristan: @tspurway.wildlife Youtube- Tristan: https://www.youtube.com/@spurofthewild?sub_confirmation=1 Website- Tristan: tspurwaywildlife.com Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show:

We identify birds by name, we learn them by name, and we talk about them by name. But how often do we stop and ask where those names actually come from, what they mean, or what stories sit behind them? My guest today is Eddie Germiquet, author of South African Birds by Name, a book that explores the origins and meanings behind the names of our birds. Eddie’s own background makes him particularly well suited to this subject. His life has included birds, languages, research, ministry and a deep curiosity about words and where they come from. In this episode, we are going to get to know Eddie, hear how the idea for the book developed, explore some of the more surprising stories behind South African bird names, talk about the research that went into the book, and also hear about the illustrations that Eddie created by hand using water soluble colour crayons. We will also look at a bigger question: why do names matter? In the foreword to the book, Mark Anderson writes, “Knowing why a bird is called what it is transforms identification from a simple exercise into a richer engagement with nature.” I think that captures beautifully what this book is really about. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza

Nardus Taljard has built an impressive online community around something he genuinely loves, wildlife, Kruger and the stories that unfold in the wild. But what does it actually take to turn that passion into a successful digital platform? In this episode, Gabby sits down with Nardus to chat about the journey behind the content, from growing an audience and working with brands to photography, conservation, the realities of social media and some of the unexpected opportunities that have come his way. We also get into the responsibility that comes with having a voice online, why authenticity matters, and how content can become far more than simply chasing views and likes. A fun, honest conversation with plenty of stories from behind the screen, and a look at what happens when passion, purpose and a camera come together. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza

My guest today is Kenyan birder, guide and ornithologist James Apolloh Omenya, who was part of an expedition into the Boni Forest region of Kenya in search of two of the country’s lost birds, the Red Weaver and the Tana River Cisticola. The expedition involved difficult travel, motorbikes, local guides, security concerns, armed escorts, and a search through a part of Kenya that very few birders will ever get to experience. And then, on 3 July 2026, James and his team found what they had gone looking for. The Red Weaver, a bird that had not been scientifically documented for 12 years. James also managed to make what is believed to be the first sound recording of the species, adding another important piece to what we know about this little known bird. So today we are going to hear the story behind that rediscovery, what it took to get there, what we are learning about the Red Weaver, and what the experience has meant to James personally. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show: James Apolloh Omenya links: https://birding-with-apolloh.com/ and https://terektours.com/ James Apolloh Omenya Https://www.facebook.com/james.apolloh.9 Birding_with_apolloh https://www.instagram.com/birding_with_apolloh

Welcome to episode one of the SnA Youth birders podcast! This podcast has been created to share birding with a younger generation and to help those parents that are raising young naturalists. We chatted with one of Southern Africa’s top young birders- Daniel Engelbrecht. He gives us insight into his recent trip to Uganda and his upcoming African trips. We chat about his love for bird call recording and the African Big Year of sounds. Dan shares his birding advice for young birders and parents with children they’d like to turn into birders. He shares his birding background and tells us about his adventures through his home province- Limpopo. Join us for a conversation filled with birds and banter; from encounters with Pittas to dragging your family into random foreign woodlands. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show: https://birdingwithdaniel.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sa_youthbirders/ https://www.instagram.com/danielengelbrecht101/ https://www.instagram.com/tspurway.wildlife/

Today we are chatting about a citizen science project that has been running for more than 30 years and has become an incredibly valuable source of information about some of South Africa’s large terrestrial birds. I am joined by Dr David Ehlers Smith, Science and Spatial Planning Project Manager at BirdLife South Africa, to talk about CAR, or Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts. We are going to unpack what a CAR count actually is, why these counts are done, what decades of data are telling us about species such as cranes, bustards, Secretarybirds and other large terrestrial birds, and, importantly, how ordinary birders can get involved. We will also chat briefly about Birding Big Day 2026 and what birders can look forward to this year. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show: CAR Count website https://car.birdmap.africa/ BirdLife South Africa website https://birdlife.org.za/

What happens when a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa becomes a lifelong obsession - and ultimately the backdrop to an extraordinary writing career? Internationally bestselling author Tony Park joins Gabby Sykora for a conversation that goes far beyond the pages of his novels. From more than three decades of African adventures to wildlife crime, conservation, unforgettable characters and the wild places that continue to inspire his stories, Tony shares the experiences, encounters and occasional chaos behind a life spent writing Africa. With 24 novels, 10 non-fiction biographies and a brand-new release, King of Beasts, Tony has built a career telling stories where fiction and reality often sit remarkably close together. There are Land Rovers, birds, bush adventures, plenty of laughs and some much bigger questions about the power of storytelling and the role it can play in conservation. A brilliant conversation with one of Africa’s most recognised adventure-thriller writers and the perfect way to kick off a brand-new season. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show: