Niels Zwartjes

Niels Zwartjes, a native of the Netherlands, is eager to immerse himself in the South African natural environment. From an early age he has always been involved with nature. During recess in kindergarten, he always looked to the vegetation and the tiny animals living on or next to the vegetation, and he was never bored when he was outside. As a scout until the age of 18, Niels could share his enthusiasm for nature with his peers, which broadened his horizons and deepened his passion for the natural world.

His journey into the ecological research world began during his Bachelor’s degree in applied biology from the HAS Green Academy, University of Applied Sciences. He graduated in 2020, specializing in ecology. His undergraduate studies allowed him to engage in various research projects, from assessing the sleeping behaviour of geese in the Netherlands to study the fission and fusion dynamics of the crested guineafowl at the Lajuma Research Centre in Limpopo, South Africa. The experience in South Africa honed his skills in scientific writing and data collection and also ignited a spark for avian ecology and birding. When he was back home in the Netherlands, he bought his first good pair of binoculars and since then, Niels and his binoculars have become inseparable.

During the past four years Niels worked as an ecological consultant in The Netherlands, where he applied his theoretical knowledge to the real world, specializing in Dutch nature protection laws, and strengthened his appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration.

In his spare time, Niels loves hiking, bouldering, birding, and being in nature.