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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-birding-life-podcast-network-1255801/tbl-podcast-season-13-episode-7-a-big-year-and-the-making-of-a-birder
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-birding-life-podcast-network-1255801/tbl-podcast-season-13-episode-7-a-big-year-and-the-making-of-a-birder.md
Podcast: [The Birding Life Podcast Network](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-birding-life-podcast-network-1255801)
Published: 2026-03-02T17:45:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.thebirdinglife.com
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/35d2bc3d-59f5-46bc-971e-0b84c0b1b9b1.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3331

## Resource

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 https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show: Follow on Anton on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bird_the_world/ Red Lark photo credit Dylan Vasapolli https://www.birdingecotours.com/

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## Transcript

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