In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Alan Lee, the Science and Innovation Programme Manager at BirdLife South Africa. Alan is one of the leading voices in bird conservation in South Africa and has spent years working with data, habitat trends, and red list assessments to help us better understand the state of our birds.

This conversation explores Alan’s fascinating journey - from conserving birds in the Amazon to protecting the endangered species of the fynbos - and his pivotal role in co-authoring the powerful new book Birds on the Brink. We talk about why birds are worth fighting for, the power of citizen science platforms like SABAP2, and how every birder, photographer, student, and storyteller has a part to play in saving South Africa’s most threatened birds.

We also discuss the importance of hope in conservation, and how Birds on the Brink blends science and storytelling to inspire meaningful action.

And if you're someone who enjoys a quick daily dose of birding inspiration, conservation news, ID tips, and community highlights, make sure you're signed up for The Daily Birder email. It’s your five-minute read that keeps you connected to the birding world every weekday. Sign up at www.thebirdinglife.com, or use the following link https://bit.ly/TBLnewslettersignup

So grab your notebook—or your field guide—and enjoy this inspiring conversation with Dr Alan Lee.

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Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza

Links from show:

BirdLife South Africa Science and Innovation Program https://www.birdlife.org.za/what-we-do/science-and-innovation/meet-the-team/