Stellenbosch University graduate turns chronic pain into a passion for birding

What began as a way to cope with chronic pain has taken flight into a remarkable academic and personal journey for Stellenbosch University graduate Annie de Villiers, who is using her passion for birding to tell the story of South Africa’s national bird.

De Villiers graduated on Monday, March 23, with a master’s degree in history, cum laude. Her thesis, Avian Nation: A cultural and political history of blue cranes in Southern Africa, from the precolonial past to the present, explores how the blue crane has shaped cultural identity, political narratives and environmental history.

Her research was deeply personal, rooted in a life-changing diagnosis.

In 2021, the former Paarl Gimnasium pupil was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a chronic condition marked by severe and often disproportionate pain. The illness reshaped nearly every aspect of her life.

“This disorder has taken over every aspect of my life, it has changed what clothing I can wear, how I sleep, how I sit and work at a desk, and what social events I can attend,” she said.

She described the unpredictability of the condition as one of its most difficult aspects.

“Some days I feel great and can play padel with friends or go on a hike, whereas during flare-ups I am bedridden for days. CRPS has made my life very unpredictable.”

As she adjusted to living with chronic pain, De Villiers found solace in birding, an activity that became both manageable during flare-ups and deeply meaningful over time.

Introduced to the hobby during the Covid-19 pandemic by a family member, she began birdwatching on a farm in Komani in the Eastern Cape, where she now lives. “On days when I had a lot of pain, my fiancé would take me on drives so I could birdwatch,” she said.

What started as a quiet pastime quickly grew into a passion. She launched an Instagram page, Funky Feathers, to document her sightings. “I got completely hooked,” she said.

Birding also opened the door to a broader community of conservationists, researchers and enthusiasts, helping to counter the isolation often associated with chronic illness. Through this network, she began sharing what she calls the “crane gospel”.

“This phrase is often used in crane conservation to explain why cranes matter for our ecosystems and biodiversity,” she said. “For me, it’s about sharing stories about our blue crane and why it is such an important historical icon.”

Her work has taken her beyond the lecture hall. She has participated in conservation workshops, presented research at academic conferences and spent four months in Venice as part of an international globalisation programme.

“My illness has never been an excuse not to chase my dreams,” she said.

The path was not without setbacks. In 2024, De Villiers took six months off from her studies to undergo medical procedures, leaving her in severe pain and often unable to walk.

“Returning to my studies after this setback required significant determination and adjustment,” she said. She ultimately completed her degree over three years.

Despite the challenges, she remained active in academic life, tutoring university students and teaching high school history while managing what she described as “many silent struggles”.

“I tried to maintain a normal life as best I could and make the most of my student years,” she said. “Over time, I made a deliberate decision that I am not my illness, and to accept each day as it comes.”

Now, with her degree complete, De Villiers plans to continue writing and advocating for birds, particularly the blue crane, which she regards as both ecologically vulnerable and historically significant.

Her journey, shaped by pain but driven by purpose, continues, one bird at a time.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus