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

About this episode

A conversation with Anton Schultz about his birding journey, the challenges of a Big Year, and personal growth through birding.

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…

People in this episode

Hosts: The Birding Life Podcast Network, Tony ZA

Guest: Anton Schultz

Topics covered

• birding
• personal growth
• Big Year
• nature
• passion
• identity
• emotional journey

Keywords

• birding
• Big Year
• nature
• personal growth
• list driven birding
• everyday species
• emotional highs
• academic path

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Birding Ecotours, Instagram

Places: Kruger

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