“The bottom line is that “normal” people just don’t have the sorts of crazy experiences that are the norm for birders.” (Faansie Peacock)
When my husband and I arrived in Capetown, South Africa for a vacation, my cousin and his wife handed us a bag of guidebooks to use during our time there. “You’ll love Faansie’s!” they promised. And we did. If you are headed to southern Africa—or already live there—you should get this book.
Faansie’s Bird Book 2 is Faansie Peacock’s updated guide to the birds of Southern Africa. A professional birder (which, for him, includes Ornithologist, Author, Artist and Publisher, Lecturer, Academic, Scientist, Taxonomist, Guide, Book Vendor, and blogger), Faansie’s book is subtitled: A fully fledged field guide… for kids — and that is the only part I would dispute. This book was so completely intriguing for two adults that we bought our own copy at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. It is available in both English and Afrikaans.
What makes this guide so amazing? In a book packed with information (each of the nearly 850 birds bird has their names in both English and Afrikaans, a map of where they can found, their habitat, size, one or more illustrations and a spot to check off whether you have seen them), Faansie has managed to keep enough white space so that the book feels inviting and accessible. The organization is especially user-friendly: the birds are divided into a dozen groups, with the birds in the front half all being bigger than a dove.
His illustrations highlight key features and make the birds easy to identify—see Faansie’s illustration of a Southern Double-Collared Sunbird and compare to the featured image photograph in this post by Luca Feuerriegel on his favorite birds of South Africa.
Southern Double-Collared Sunbird in Faansie’s Bird Book 2 by Faansie Peacock
For kids, this isn’t just a guide, it is a complete activity book. Faansie has turned the entire book into a “Bird Nerd Game” with a scoring system for each bird. In addition, there’s a checkoff for a lifelist, QR codes to scan to hear the birds sounds, and even an app, Firefinch (available on Google Play and Apple) that can be used with the book or separately.
Scoring system for the “Bird Nerd Game” in Faansie Peacock’s Faansie’s Bird Book 2
As Faansie notes, birds live in the real world, and his illustrations include a huge variety of creatures and objects along with the featured birds. There’s a Hide & Seek section, where kids can check off when they find objects as varied as an irritated White Rhino, a basking Rainbow Skink, a happy dung beetle, a golf cart, the Table Mountain Cable Car and a workbench with hammer and nails. Every few pages there is a question, set apart in a green circle, with answers in the back.
The Familiar Chat with nest on a workbench; part of the Hide & Seek in Faansie’s Bird Book 2
For parents, Faansie has a special note about the greatest gift you can give to your child—a love of nature. The book has tips for making birding fun, and this bit of advice: The bottom line is that “normal” people just don’t have the sorts of crazy experiences that are the norm for birders. Birding fosters a sense of living outside the mundane day-today, and a sense of liberty in kids.
The verdict for this book? 5 Gold Stars — More if I could give them!
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Faansie’s Bird Book 2, written and illustrated by Faansie Peacock
Pavo Publishing, 2024
ISBN: 978-0-6397-8115-0
R430
496 pages, ages 4-adult
Faansie’s books are all very, very good. He has also published on waders and LBJ’s.