Another exciting happening for birders…The Birding Life Awards are running for the very first time – voting is open now!
South Africa (29 January 2026) – The Birding Life started as a podcast in the midst of lockdown in 2020 by Adam Cruickshank. In six years, it has mushroomed into a world-famous birding resource. This year, it celebrates another milestone by hosting its very first awards ceremony, recognising people, platforms, initiatives and birding-related contributions that have made a difference in the community.
The Birding Life Awards are based entirely on public voting. Spanning five categories, 37 nominees have been selected for this year’s awards. With nominations now closed, it’s up to the public to vote.
“What is exciting about The Birding Life Awards is that both the nominees and the final winners are decided by the birding community. This allows us to see who has truly made a meaningful mark in birding. We are encouraged by the quality of the nominees. We have seen how many of them have worked tirelessly over the past few years to add value to the birding community and to conservation in South Africa,” shares Adam.
Categories include South African Bird Identification App of the Year, Bird and Nature Book of the Year, Best South African Birding Accommodation Venue, South African Birding YouTube Channel of the Year, and South African Bird Photographer of the Year.
“This is an opportunity to say thank you to those who have invested in the birding community. Much of the work they do happens behind the scenes and often goes unnoticed. Voting allows the community to recognise and celebrate their impact. It also gives the winners valuable exposure and helps their work reach a wider audience,” adds Adam.
Voting is open until the 20th of February, and each vote earns a chance to win a prize. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter on 27th.
“It is important to recognise people who have made a real impact. Too often we move on without stopping to acknowledge the effort and commitment of others. These awards are a way of saying that the birding community sees you, values you, and is grateful for what you do,” says Adam.
Sources: GTG Interview
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:
Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 