This week’s guest is one of the coolest people that I have had the opportunity to meet. I am pleased to welcome Bart Fokkens to the show. In this episode we chat about music, Splashy Fen, and of course birds. Bart is a fantastic storyteller who will draw you in with his warm personality!In this episode Bart talks about a trip that he did for Namibia last year. After hearing about this amazing birding destination, I am sure you will want to plan a trip the country. If you are looking for the best accommodation that caters for the unique demands of birders, head on over to the Namibia page on our Accommodation directory on our website. You will be spoilt with choice with fantastic destinations such as Sandfontein Lodge & Nature Reserve, OraBo River Lodge, Aloegrove Safari Lodge, Daan Viljoen Lodge, and Shametu River Lodge on the edge of the Okavango River in the Caprivi Strip. Wherever you decide to head in Namibia, we have you covered! Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Namibia Accommodation Directory https://www.thebirdinglife.com/namibia

The Birding Life Podcast

Season 7 Episode 1 - Birds, Splashy, and a Life Adventure

In this episode I chat to return guest, Keanu Canto. Keanu tells us all how he keeps his passion for his local patch strong, he creates both a Tinder profile and a car music playlist, and as with his last episode, gives lots of practical advice to help birders improve their field skills.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/

Season 6 Episode 5 - Keanu Canto - The Local Patch

Narina Trogan, Eastern Nicator, Spotted-Ground Thrush, African Broadbill, and Wood Owl are just a few of the special species that can be found in and around the small Zululand town of Eshowe. Tristan Naude is a young birder whose love for birds started many years before he called this magical town home. In this episode, we will not only hear all about birding in and around Eshowe, but we will also discover what makes Tristan tick! We will hear about his bogey bird, his favourite birding books, and get tips on how you can improve your own birding. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/

Season 6 Episode 4 - Tristan Naude

Last week Saturday, Birding Big Day 2022 saw birders from all over South Africa trying to see as many bird species as possible in 24 hours. The team that recorded the most species in the 50 km radius challenge was E-Birders who saw an impressive 336 species! In the 6km radius challenge, Mad Marataba Maccoas recorded an insane 172 species. In this episode I will be chatting to Emma Schonken, who was part of the Green-backed camera operators team, ho took part in the 6km challenge. Emma is a newer birder, so it’s great to hear her perspective on the day. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/

Season 6 Episode 3 - Leopards, Cuckoos, and Camera Operators

This week’s guest is someone that had all the South African birders dreaming of a White Christmas! I chat to Decklan Jordaan, the young birder who this past weekend discovered a White Wagtail at Sappi Stanger on the KwaZulu Natal North Coast. This is only the second time that this species has been recorded in the region. We chat about this find, as well as other insights into birds and birding.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Decklan Jordaan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decklan_jordaan/

Season 6 Episode 2 - Dreaming of a White Christmas

In this episode we will be chatting all about Birding Big Day. I had a conversation with Jody de Bruyn who was part of 'Wat-kyk-jy', who were the winners of last year’s Birding Big Day. Jody gives lots of tips and advice for those that want to see more birds on the day.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Birding Big Day https://www.birdlife.org.za/support-us/events/birding-big-day-2022/

Season 6 Episode 1 - Birding Big Day Tips and Advice

In this, the last episode of season 5, I will be talking to someone that I have wanted to have on the show for a long time. He has been birding for 35 years, he was one of the hosts of the 'Better Birding' webinars, and he is a fantastic person - I am pleased to introduce David Winter. We will chat about a wide range of birding topics - David's personal birding story, bird clubs, how he sees the past, the present, and the future of birding, how technology can be better used to help and grow birding, and a whole lot more! This is one of my favourite episodes that I have recorded!Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Better Birding YouTube Page https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY02DpoYa_S6EMbPqZiQukQ

Season 5 Episode 10 - A Winter's Birding Tale

In this episode we will explore one of the best tools available for those interested in South African birds, the SABAP2 website. I chatted to the projects Information Systems Specialist, Michael Brooks. Michael, who is responsible for all the IT and software development for the SABAP2 project, tells us all about what the website offers birders. He also chats about some recent updates that have been made to the website and how these will add to your enjoyment of birds.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Firefinch App: Website / IOS Download / Android Download SABAP2 Website: https://sabap2.birdmap.africa/

Season 5 Episode 9 - Exploring the SABAP2 Website

In this episode I will having a chat to my good friend Sithembiso Blessing Majoka. In the last episode that we did together we discussed Zulu bird names, in this episode we have a conversation about Birds and Zulu Culture. We look as some of the beliefs that surround four well-known Southern African species and how this affects their conservation.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Firefinch App: Website / IOS Download / Android Download 

Season 5 Episode 8 - Birds and Zulu Culture

In this episode I will be chatting to two of the team members who were responsible for the recently released Firefinch app. Faansie Peacock is one of South Africa’s best loved bird authors, and his books have become essential items for any birder’s collection. I chat to both him, as well as Stephan Swart, the developer who helped put Faansie’s ideas onto the Firefinch app. In the chat we find out all about the app, finding out not only what the offers the user, but also the story behind the development of the app.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Firefinch App: Website / IOS Download / Android Download 

Season 5 Episode 7 - The Firefinch App

In this episode we will be talking all about Cape Parrots! I chat to Susan Wishart, the Project Manager at The Cape Parrot Project. She tells us all about this special species, the threats that they are facing, as well as the conservation initiatives that are being done to conserve them. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Cape Parrot Project LinksSusan Wishart email susan@wildbirdtrust.comWebsite https://www.wildbirdtrust.com/projects/cape-parrot-project

Season 5 Episode 6 - The Cape Parrot Project

In this episode we chat to Adam Riley about his newly released photographic guide, 'Birds of South Africa'. He tells us all about the book, as well as sharing his expert knowledge on the birds and birding in South Africa Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/'Order Birds of South Africa' - https://www.thebirdinglife.com/product-page/birds-of-south-africa

Season 5 Episode 5 - Birds of South Africa

In this episode we do a virtual birding trip through magical Namibia with bird guide, Leon Marais. He tells us all about the birds, locations, routes, and everything you need to know to plan a birding trip to the country.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Lawson’s Birding, Wildlife Safaris, and Custom Safaris offers first class birding and wildlife trips to a range of countries in Southern and Eastern Africa. Contact them today to set up the safari of a lifetime - https://www.thebirdinglife.com/leon-maraisBook you Namibia Bird Trip - https://www.thebirdinglife.com/namibia

Season 5 Episode 4 - A Namibian Birding Adventure

In this episode I chat to well known atlaser Pieter Verster. If you want to see more birds, while contributing to conversation - this is the episode for you!In the episode Pieter speaks about:How another atlaser inspired his journey and the importance of connecting with other atlasersHow to make the most of the SABAP2 website to plan your birding How to use the SABAP2 data to target species to grow your provincial listHow to work out how many birds you will see in an areaHow to find the birds in the pentads that you are targeting Advice to people that want to start atlasing Ideas to make atlasing even more funAnd lots more...Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:SABAP2 Website https://sabap2.birdmap.africa/Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/

Season 5 Episode 3 - In Pursuit of More: An Atlasing Journey

The week's guest is the much-loved local birder Sithembiso Blessing Majoka.We chat all about recent Gauteng birding trip - sharing both our highlights and our lowlights. We then delve into Zulu bird names and their connection to traditional culture.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Get your copy of Birds of KwaZulu Natal and their Zulu Names https://www.thebirdinglife.com/product-page/roberts-birds-of-kwazulu-natal-and-their-zulu-names

Season 5 Episode 2 - Inhlekabafazi and other Zulu Bird Tales

The Birding Life podcast is for learning more about birds and the people that follow them. It's for those passionate about conservation and leaving a legacy for the generation to come.

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The Birding Life Podcast

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