Joshua grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his birding journey started around age three and was sparked by the many field guides and bird books he read as a child. Having birded the country extensively for most of his life, he has also extended his reach to countries such as Thailand, Uganda, Argentina, Israel, and Norway, and has a particular fondness for the tropics.

Having known from an early age that he wanted to work in birding, Joshua’s passion led him to pursue bird guiding as a career. His involvement in conservation work through BirdLife South Africa even led to him being awarded the BirdLife South Africa Owlet Award in 2017. His interest in nature also extends far beyond birding, encompassing other wildlife such as mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, and dragonflies.

With a bright demeanour, Joshua loves sharing his interest in birds with others and creating memorable experiences for people in the natural world.

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  What fuelled your passion for birds and birding when you were younger?

  I’ve had an innate interest in birds for as long as I can remember. There wasn’t much external influence that led me to this passion, and I never had any family or friends who were interested in birding. However, it was definitely spurred on by my mother, who luckily noticed my deep love for birds from an early age. She would constantly buy me field guides and take me out on trips and weekends away during the holidays throughout my childhood, and it all sort of snowballed from there.

   

  What are some of your favourite countries you have birded?

  Aside from South Africa, I would have to say Uganda and Thailand are tied for the top spot! Both are incredibly rich in species, including iconic birds such as Shoebill, Grauer’s Broadbill, Mrs Hume’s Pheasant, and Malayan Banded Pitta. Israel would also be up there. Being there during migration season and witnessing thousands of raptors flying overhead over the course of many weeks was truly a spectacle I could never forget, along with the many interesting desert species that occur there.

   

  Do you have a favourite bird or bird family?

  No, that’s like asking me to pick a favourite child!

   

  Do you have any other hobbies or interests?

  Within the field of nature, I’m interested in all forms of flora and fauna, but birds are my mainstay. Aside from nature, I enjoy being active, training, running, etc. I also play piano and enjoy messing around with music production.

   

  What is the craziest thing you have ever done to see a bird?

  A friend and I once drove 750 kilometres (a nine-hour drive) from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth to see one of South Africa’s first Spur-winged Lapwings, sitting in a dodgy canal next to the freeway. We arrived, saw the bird, and then headed straight back home, making it 18 hours of driving in 24 hours!

   

  What do you enjoy most about guiding?

  Seeing new birds, travelling, and meeting like-minded people who share this hobby!

   

  One of your best birding experiences to date?

  Coincidentally stumbling upon a Chaco Eagle at the end of a three-week trip to northwestern Argentina, after having cleaned up most of the other Chaco, Yungas, and Andean specialties of that region. This was the one Chaco target that we didn’t have a reliable method to find and were simply hoping to bump into somewhere. And we did, on the third-last day of the trip!

   

  What is your advice to people who want to visit a specific destination for birding?

  I would say it is crucial to thoroughly study the birds along your route, know what the main target species will be, and where to look for them. It also helps to be well read up on the logistics of travelling around your desired destination. Fortunately, if you are travelling with a birding tour operator like us, most of those details are already covered, but it never hurts to be well informed nonetheless.

   

  What advice would you give to a budding young birder?

  Bird for the birds, not for the list! I see many people these days getting so caught up in the excitement of collecting ticks on their lists that they forget the root of birding, which in my opinion is simply enjoying observing birds. It’s okay to have lists, I do, just like most birders, but as long as that doesn’t become the primary reason why you are a birder, you’ll be good!