The Birding Life Podcast Network

The Birding Life Podcast Network
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  • NATURE
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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. TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 9 - Saving the Secretarybird: A Conversation with Cassie Carstens Pt 2

    1D AGO

    TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 9 - Saving the Secretarybird: A Conversation with Cassie Carstens Pt 2

    This is Part 2 of my conversation with Cassie Carstens, the Secretarybird Project Manager at BirdLife South Africa. In the first episode, we explored Cassie’s journey into bird conservation, what shaped his passion for birds, and some of the experiences and lessons that led him to the work he is doing today. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I would highly recommend going back and starting there. In this second part of the conversation, we go deeper into the conservation work around the Secretarybird. We unpack the challenges facing the species, how research and data help guide conservation decisions, and what practical steps are being taken to try and secure a future for this iconic bird. Cassie also shares insights into how conservation projects operate behind the scenes, and how birders and the broader public can play a role in supporting the work being done. Once again, a big thank you to Summerveld Country Lodge in Outer West Durban for allowing us to record this conversation on their premises.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: If you would like to support the work Cassie is doing, you can reach him at cassie.carstens@birdlife.org.za BirdLife South Africa Secretarybird Conservation work website Summerveld Country Lodge https://summerveldcountrylodge.com/

    44 min
  2. TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 8 - Saving the Secretarybird: A Conversation with Cassie Carstens Pt 1

    MAR 9

    TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 8 - Saving the Secretarybird: A Conversation with Cassie Carstens Pt 1

    In this episode I bring you the first of a two part conversation with Cassie Carstens, the Secretarybird Project Manager at BirdLife South Africa. Before we begin, a big thank you to Summerveld Country Lodge for allowing us to record this episode on their premises. The lodge is located in Outer West Durban, and if you ever find yourself in the area, it’s well worth a visit. They serve outstanding food and the service is absolutely excellent. This episode is much more than just a conversation about conservation. It’s an honest look at the journey that shaped Cassie’s love for birds, his passion for species like the Secretarybird and Cape Parrot, and the lessons and mistakes that have helped shape his work along the way. We talk about who Cassie is, what drives him, and what it really looks like to work on the front lines of conservation. I also ask some important questions about the conservation of the Secretarybird, the wider role of BirdLife South Africa, and how decisions are made within the organisation. Along the way, we also get a fascinating glimpse into the world of research. How data is collected, how it is organised, and how it ultimately helps guide the decisions that shape conservation work. 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: If you would like to support the work Cassie is doing, you can reach him at cassie.carstens@birdlife.org.za BirdLife South Africa Secretarybird Conservation work website Summerveld Country Lodge https://summerveldcountrylodge.com/

    51 min
  3. YWP Podcast Season 5 Episode 3 - From Data to Decisions: Conservation, People & the Road Ahead with Brent Coverdale (Part 2)

    MAR 6

    YWP Podcast Season 5 Episode 3 - From Data to Decisions: Conservation, People & the Road Ahead with Brent Coverdale (Part 2)

    In Part Two of my conversation with Brent Coverdale, we shift the focus from what is being done to what still needs to change. Building on Part One, this episode explores the challenges facing threatened species conservation - from funding and land-use pressures to public perception and policy. Brent reflects on the role of people in conservation, the responsibility that comes with knowledge, and where young voices, photographers and birders fit into the bigger picture. This episode is about perspective, accountability, and hope, and why conservation isn’t just the job of scientists, but of everyone who cares enough to get involved. 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

    36 min
  4. TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 7 - A Big Year and the Making of a Birder

    MAR 2

    TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 7 - A Big Year and the Making of a Birder

    In this episode I’m joined by Anton Schultz for an honest and wide ranging conversation about birding, passion, and personal growth. Anton’s journey began like many others. A love for nature as a kid, a family trip to Kruger, and a field guide placed in his hands that opened up a whole new world. What started as curiosity quickly turned into deep commitment, eventually leading him to take on a full birding Big Year. We talk about how his approach to birding has changed over time. From list driven birding and chasing lifers, to slowing down and finding real joy in everyday species. Anton shares what it’s really like to attempt a Big Year on a budget, including the planning, pressure, setbacks, and emotional highs and lows that come with it. We also explore how birding shaped his identity, influenced his academic path, and helped him grow as a person beyond the birds themselves. This is a reflective episode about why we bird, how we mature through the process, and what we learn along the way. 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: Follow on Anton on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bird_the_world/ Red Lark photo credit Dylan Vasapolli https://www.birdingecotours.com/

    56 min
  5. TBL Youth Podcast - Season 10 Episode 2 - The University of Edinburgh Ornithological Society: Part 2

    MAR 1

    TBL Youth Podcast - Season 10 Episode 2 - The University of Edinburgh Ornithological Society: Part 2

    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:

    25 min
  6. TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 6 - Southern African Rare Bird Round Up 2025

    FEB 23

    TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 6 - Southern African Rare Bird Round Up 2025

    In this episode we dive into the fascinating world of rare birds in Southern Africa. There is really only one person who could join me for this conversation, Trevor Hardaker. Together, we look back at some of the best rare bird sightings from Southern Africa in 2025, as well as the birders who found them. But this episode goes beyond the highlights. We get practical and unpack how to improve your chances of finding rare birds in the field, how to submit sightings, how records are assessed, and how it is decided which birds make it onto the Southern African Rare Bird News report. This episode will bring back memories of some unforgettable Southern African sightings from 2025, while also giving you the tools and confidence to add a few rare birds of your own in the year ahead. If you would like to sign up for the SA Rare Bird News Report, email Trevor at hardaker@mweb.co.za and he will add you to the list. 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

    56 min
  7. YWP Podcast Season 5 Episode 2 - Brent Coverdale: Protecting Species on the Brink (Part 1)

    FEB 20

    YWP Podcast Season 5 Episode 2 - Brent Coverdale: Protecting Species on the Brink (Part 1)

    After sharing the stage with Brent Coverdale at the 2025 BirdLife South Africa Owl Awards, it felt only fitting to sit down and continue the conversation — not under the spotlight, but behind the scenes. In part one of two episodes, we focuses on the work behind the work - what it really takes to protect threatened species like Blue Swallows, vultures, cranes, cheetah and elephants. Brent shares what his role involves day to day, from field monitoring and aerial surveys to management plans and decision-making that quietly shapes the future of our wildlife. This is an honest, accessible look at conservation beyond the surface - perfect for young conservationists, birders and photographers wanting to understand how impact truly happens. 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

    49 min
  8. TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 5 - Ntsikeni Nature Reserve: Where Conservation Meets Community

    FEB 16

    TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 5 - Ntsikeni Nature Reserve: Where Conservation Meets Community

    In this episode, I’m joined by three special guests whose stories are all connected to one remarkable place. Ntsikeni Nature Reserve lies in southern KwaZulu Natal, between Underberg and Kokstad. Today we explore the people, the conservation work, and the birds that make this reserve so special. At the heart of this episode is a conversation with Dalu Ngcobo, recorded late one night at the lodge in the reserve. Dalu is a BirdLife South Africa accredited bird guide from the local community, and his story alone will make you want to experience Ntsikeni for yourself. We begin the episode with Nandi Thobela, the Empowering People Programme Manager at BirdLife South Africa. She shares how Ntsikeni fits into the wider conservation and community work happening across the country. We end the episode with John Kinghorn, who speaks passionately about why this reserve is so close to his heart and why it matters for the future of bird conservation. 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: Ntsikeni Nature Reserve https://gobirding.birdlife.org.za/lower-drakensburg-foothills-ntsikeni-nature-reserve/

    1h 3m
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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
    235
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Birding Life Podcast Network

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