“I Actually Hate Birds”: A Humourous Interview with Sasol Birds’ Ian Sinclair

Karen Kotze interviewed the witty Ian Sinclair, author of the original Sasol Birds of Southern Africa, which last year was revised for a fourth edition, co-authored by Warwick Tarboton, Phil Hockey, and Peter Ryan. In the interview, Sinclair reveals a devious sense of humour, saying, “I actually hate birds”, and recalling the “hooliganism” that led him from stamp collecting to bird watching:

“After this one, I’m klaar,” declares Ian Sinclair. He’s referring to the fourth – and final – revise of his international best-seller, Sasol Birds of Southern Africa.

His physical address states Pinelands, indeed his spacious and elegant home is in Pinelands, but the man himself rarely is. As this is written, he’s hunting down 30 endemic birds of Sri Lanka which are rumoured to be there, but have not yet been seen. Half a dozen of them are nocturnal too, so he paints quite a picture of a “Saucepan Man” version of himself, strung with torches, Canon equipment and flanked by fellow explorers, creeping through thickets in the deep dark night.

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Book details

• Sasol Birds of Southern Africa IV by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, Peter Ryan and Warwick Tarboton, illustrated by Norman Arlott
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  EAN: 9781770079250
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