The Birding Life Podcast Network

The Birding Life Podcast Network
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Nature
  • Updated Weekly

The Birding Life Podcast Network brings you a mix of shows all about African birding and nature. We're here to connect you with birds, the great outdoors, and the amazing people we meet along the way. Tune in and join us on our adventures!

  1. 18h ago

    TBL Podcast - Season 15 Episode 5 - Themba Robin: Birds, Birders and Comedy

    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/

    TBL Podcast - Season 15 Episode 5 - Themba Robin: Birds, Birders and Comedy

  2. 4d ago

    SnA Youth Birders Podcast - Season 1 Episode 2 - Anton Schultz- A Young Big Year

    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:

    SnA Youth Birders Podcast - Season 1 Episode 2 - Anton Schultz- A Young Big Year

  3. Sep 7

    TBL Podcast - Season 15 Episode 4 - Eddie Germiquet: Every Bird Name Has a Story

    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

    TBL Podcast - Season 15 Episode 4 - Eddie Germiquet: Every Bird Name Has a Story

  4. Sep 4

    YWP Podcast - Season 7 Episode 2 - Creating Content in the Wild - Nardus Taljard

    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

    YWP Podcast - Season 7 Episode 2 - Creating Content in the Wild - Nardus Taljard

  5. Aug 31

    TBL Podcast - Season 15 Episode 3 - Finding Kenya's Lost Red Weaver

    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

    TBL Podcast - Season 15 Episode 3 - Finding Kenya's Lost Red Weaver

  6. Aug 28

    SnA Youth Birders Podcast - Season 1 Episode 1 - Daniel Engelbrecht - The Bird Man from Limpopo

    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/

    SnA Youth Birders Podcast - Season 1 Episode 1 - Daniel Engelbrecht - The Bird Man from Limpopo

  7. Aug 24

    TBL Podcast - Season 15 Episode 2 - What Is a CAR Count and Why Should Birders Care?

    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/

    TBL Podcast - Season 15 Episode 2 - What Is a CAR Count and Why Should Birders Care?

  8. Aug 21

    YWP Podcast - Season 7 Episode 1 - The Wild World of Tony Park

    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:

    YWP Podcast - Season 7 Episode 1 - The Wild World of Tony Park
See All (262)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Birding Life Podcast Network brings you a mix of shows all about African birding and nature. We're here to connect you with birds, the great outdoors, and the amazing people we meet along the way. Tune in and join us on our adventures!

Information

  • Creator
    The Birding Life Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    262
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Birding Life Podcast Network