The Birding Life Podcast Network

In this episode, we bring you the second half of our two-part conversation with Faansie Peacock.
In this episode, we dig even deeper into the topics that matter — from the ethics of birding, how we engage with rare birds, the role of technology in modern birding, and the importance of building community. Faansie also shares how becoming a dad has shaped his perspective on birds and life, and why curiosity, humility, and joy should always be part of the journey.
This episode is proudly associated with Firefinch App. Firefinch is more than just an app. It's a celebration of Southern Africa's birds, birders and wild places. We're always adding stuff, and all updates are free. Check out our new Whistlr bird call game, sound recordings of Fynbos Buttonquail and Herero Chat, and plates for Sabine's Spinetail and Upland Sandpiper! Plus 240 Dawn Chorus articles and podcasts. Firefinch – Facts, fun, feathers.
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:
Firefinch App https://www.firefinchapp.com/

As a new season of the YWP Podcast begins, Gabby returns to the Kruger National Park under very different circumstances.
Recent floods have left parts of Kruger damaged, roads washed away, and access limited and this is a powerful reminder that even places we see as timeless are shaped by nature’s force. In this opening episode, Gabby reflects on what it means to move through wild spaces on nature’s terms, drawing from a chaotic teenage camping trip to Pafuri and contrasting it with the reality of returning to a park in recovery.
This episode explores resilience, uncertainty, and the uncomfortable questions around conservation, access, privilege, and patience. It asks what it really means to love a place when it is wounded and whether we, as visitors, are willing to slow down and listen.
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, we begin a special two-part conversation with Faansie Peacock — one of Southern Africa’s most passionate and prolific birders, authors, artists, and educators. Faansie has played a massive role in shaping how we see and understand birds in this region, from field guides to bird calls to digital tools.
In this first part, we explore Faansie’s early birding journey, how his relationship with listing has changed over time, and how deepening your connection with birds can transform the way you bird. We also get into the importance of sound recording, what it means to truly know a species, and how fieldcraft and storytelling go hand in hand.
This episode is proudly associated with Firefinch App. Firefinch is more than just an app. It's a celebration of Southern Africa's birds, birders and wild places. We're always adding stuff, and all updates are free. Check out our new Whistlr bird call game, sound recordings of Fynbos Buttonquail and Herero Chat, and plates for Sabine's Spinetail and Upland Sandpiper! Plus 240 Dawn Chorus articles and podcasts. Firefinch – Facts, fun, feathers.
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:
Firefinch App https://www.firefinchapp.com/

In today's episode, Josh has a chat to the the University of Edinburgh Ornithological Society's committee members Annie, Luke and Rory. They enchant him with tales of birding in Scotland and university life in Edinburgh!
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, I’m joined by Josua Wenzel — a talented young birder and artist — as he takes us on a deep dive into his two-month birding and conservation trip across Kenya.
From the cloud forests of the Taita Hills to the coastal habitats of Malindi and the savannas of Tsavo, Josua shares the story behind the species, the challenges of traveling on a student budget, and the people and places that left the biggest mark on him. We also talk about his volunteer work with A Rocha Kenya, the importance of community-led conservation, and why the African Birding Hub could play a vital role in protecting Kenya’s unique biodiversity.
This episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and practical tips for anyone who’s ever dreamt of birding beyond their borders. Whether you’re into sound recording, local guiding, rare endemics, or travel with purpose, you’ll find something in this conversation to take with you.
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:
Josua's Website - josuawenzel.co.za