In this episode, I chat with Etienne Marais. This is a really special conversation, and one that I think you are going to get a lot of value from.

We recorded this episode in person at Zaagkuilsdrift Bird Sanctuary and Lodge. Not only did we get to sit down for this conversation, but I also had the chance to spend some time birding at the lodge and enjoyed some really special sightings during my stay.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the world of warblers. This is a group of birds that many birders find challenging, but Etienne breaks it down in a way that is simple, practical, and easy to follow.

By the end of this episode, you will have a much better understanding of warblers, and more importantly, you will have the tools to go out and find and identify them for yourself.

This episode is an overflow of years spent in the field, and it is a real privilege to learn from someone with this level of experience.

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:

Etienne Marais website https://www.etiennebirding.com/

Zaagkuilsdrift Bird Sanctuary and Lodge website https://zaagkuilsdrift.co.za/

Join Erin and Paige as they detail there journey through Botswana and Zambia on Josh's wild birding holiday!

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:

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/