The Birding Life Podcast Network

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/