The Birding Life Podcast Network

Today's episode is going to be a little bit different. Normally, I have a guest joining me on the podcast, but today I've decided to do something that I've actually been putting off for quite some time, and that is recording a solo episode!
I must admit, I'm a little bit nervous about doing this, so please be kind! But I thought this would be a great opportunity to share something that I'm really passionate about, and that is local birding.
I've written quite a bit about this recently in my Daily Birder articles, but I thought it would be nice to have a bit of a relaxed conversation about it here on the podcast. I want to share some of my own experiences, how my approach to birding my local area has changed over the years, and some of the things I've learned along the way.
Although I'll obviously be drawing on my own experiences as a South African birder, I want to make sure that what we chat about today is useful to birders wherever you are in the world.
And really, the main idea I want to explore today is quite simple. You don't necessarily need to travel further to improve your birding. Sometimes you just need to get to know the places close to home a little bit better.
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

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/