Born in South Africa in January 1951.  After completing MSc in Zoology (a project in bird behaviour) at the University of Cape Town (South Africa), spent a year at the University of Bielefeld (Germany), as an exchange student of the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst.  PhD at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg (South Africa), in 1978 on breeding biology of weaverbirds.  From 1980 held an academic position in the Department of Zoology & Entomology at Rhodes University in Grahamstown (now Makhanda, South Africa).  Retired in 2016, retaining status of Emeritus Professor of Zoology. 

Since 1992 regular participation in the Pan-African Ornithological Congresses held every four years, and served on the Pan-African Ornithological Congress Committee (PAOCC) from 2000, chairing the Scientific Programme Committee for the 2004 congress in Tunisia, and chair of the PAOCC from 2008-2012.  Also attended the International Ornithological Congresses held in Germany (2), Austria, Canada (2), South Africa, China, Brazil and Japan. 

Served as editor of the scientific journal Ostrich from 1985-1997; currently on the editorial board of African Zoology. Awarded the 2014 Gill Memorial Medal by BirdLife South Africa for services to ornithology in Southern Africa.  Contributor to Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa, Birds of Africa (Vols 6, 7) and Handbook of the Birds of the World (Vols 14, 15).  Collaboration with colleagues from the Université de Rennes (France) on vocalisations of African starlings since 2003.  Active bird-ringer, with interests also in the history of ornithological research in Africa, and the importance of museum collections.  Read and speak German, French and Afrikaans.