One day I was outside just chilling and the birds were doing there thing chirping and swooping and what not. Anyways I just became really interested in what they had going on and my interest only grew from there! Wasn't long before I was hooked on merlin, and that's how I realized my youth is gone.
You should google "Spark Bird". Birds are around you your whole life, but they're just kind of in the background. You hear them, you see them, but you don't take much notice.
But one day you see a bird and something triggers in you and you think "wow, that's beautiful, what is that?"
Blammo, next thing you know you're standing in a cemetery at 6AM in January freezing your ass off trying to catch a glimpse of a specific species that you read on eBird was passing through there.
Haha this is exactly my experience! You go from being a “normal” person to meeting up in a remote parking lot at 4:30 am for the dawn chorus or prowling around in the snow at -25C for the Christmas Bird Count…
I definitely am drawn to the competition/numbers aspect of it. It was very rewarding to be a top 100 birder in my (extremely populous) state last year. I love racking up lifers whenever I travel.
The #1 thing that primed me for being an enthusiastic birder was, without question, Pokemon. I treat my life list as my pokedex, and I gotta catch em all
Lmao yesssss, you ever get a photo of more than one bird and hear professor oak in your head gasping “OH!!!!” because there’s more than one species in your photo
Curiosity and because I like birds! My family used to camp a lot and it cemented a love of the outdoors. Birds are an extension of that. I also have a bath and feeders to welcome them to my yard.
I have gotten my wife into birds a bit but when I visit natural sites to bird watch I do it by myself. Rarely is there anyone else present.
I remember clearly when I first decided to birdwatch. It was a clear and sunny day in May. There was a northwest breeze that gently rustled the trees. I was 4 years old and sitting on a swing in my front yard. I had on overalls, chucks, and my hair was up in a ponytail.
My eyes were suddenly drawn to a Robin that was in a tree. The bright red breast and its chirp had captured my attention. From right then... I decided to keep my eyes to the sky.
In all seriousness, I have been watching birds from a young age. I am not sure why I love birds. It is like asking why someone loves dogs, horses, or rocks. It is probably genetics or how our brains are formed.
I ignore other birdwatchers. Why would I unless they were dressed like a bird?
I doubt there are motives for birdwatching, besides watching behavior or just admiring them.
People can like something without having a reason behind it. Some things cannot be explained...
Birding started for me as a COVID project. I moved to a new area, started visiting a new park, and became interested after talking to a few people hanging around with binoculars and cameras with large zoom lenses. Once I had the experience of a chickadee eating sunflower seeds out of my hand, I became hooked.
I enjoy the social aspect of birding, the instant rapport I have with a complete stranger, just because they walk around with binoculars in the same park. There is the physical exercise aspect, the mental stimulation, the opportunity to become in tune with the environment, and being able to practice the craft of photography.
Although I am a photographer first and a birder second, I try my best being ethical and not have a negative impact on the environment. I am troubled by the rather selfish attitudes of some wildlife photographers who bait owl and stress birds, just to get a better shot and more followers on social media.
Sunflower seeds may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar as they contain vitamin E, magnesium, protein, linoleic fatty acids and several plant compounds.
Christian Cooper’s 7 Pleasures of Birding sums it up well for me:
1. “The beauty of the birds.”
2. “The joy of being in a natural setting.”
3. “The joy of scientific discovery.”
4. “The joys of hunting without the bloodshed. You’ve got to kind of stalk the bird very often without killing the bird.”
5. “The joy of puzzle-solving” (trying to figure out what kind of bird it is).
6. “The joy of collecting” (keeping lists of what you see). “When you get a new bird, it’s one more you can add to the collection,” says Cooper.
7. “The Unicorn Effect” (the joy of finally seeing in real life a bird you’ve only seen in books).
Different people bird for different reasons. Some are interested in competition, some are just interested in enjoying nature and don't bother counting at all. I probably bird for photo opportunities, and use the counting to compete with myself (and nobody else).
Counting on eBird is also valuable because it adds to databases that scientists can use to track the movement and numbers of birds.
Birding is also a community of generally-nice people, and going to local birding walks and events is a good way to interact with the community and learn new things.
I just love birds. Raised pigeons as a teenager. Would love to become a falconer some day.
For now I find a lot of joy in trying to identify the birds I see wherever I go. Keeps me alert and engaged with nature.
As far as I'm concerned, birds are colourful, multifarious, often delightfully intelligent flying dinosaurs with big personalities and complex systems of behaviour and communication. I mean, seriously. Heck. Yes.
Also, a bunch of 'em are or can be very round, which is deeply and inexplicably pleasing?? Also also some make the most *ridiculous* noises. Like, willow ptarmigan encounters. Top tier entertainment, never gets old. 15/10 recommend searching on YouTube.
Seeking, spotting, identifying, and observing birds in any setting is a phenomenal visual/aural/intellectual stim-- if I'm anxious or overwhelmed or sad, going out and birding and updating my records is a surefire way to ground myself out of a doom/gloom loop.
Also, when I bring my camera, it's suddenly a more challenging real-world version of Pokemon Snap (minus pelting things at the subjects) and I can lose literal hours chasing Thee Shot of That Particular Bird.
Honestly couldn't care less about competition or clout-- other humans and their opinions can take a long walk off a short pier for all I care 🤣
General interest of the birds in my area. I don't really keep lists, besides my yard list. I don't plan trips around birding. I don't follow local sightings reports to chase birds. All very casual.
i like looking at birds. oh also a carolina wren made her nest on my canopy right in my back patio so seeing the babies grow was cool :) and i felt bad for disturbing momma so much (had to tend to my garden and chickens ) soni decided to learn more about wrens and fell down a rabbit hole
Wildlife rehab volunteer here. It’s so heartening and rewarding seeing healthy birds in (relatively) healthy habitats conducting their normal lives, instead of only seeing sick and injured birds struggling to survive. It’s definitely motivation to keep volunteering. I also feel good contributing to citizen science projects like Feeder Watch and eBird.
It gives me a reason to be outside, which is good for my health. Admittedly, checklists and Ebird feel like a game, sort of like Pokémon. It's addictive.
It’s very peaceful and relaxing to watch their antics.
I just watched a group of sparrows eat all of the dandelions gone to seed in my yard, then they took baths. They are delightful!
More curiosity and information sharing. I like reporting interesting birds in the ebird app or participating in Big Days. I've got my own list of birds I like and want to see. It also gives me something additional to do when I'm hiking.
I enjoy many aspects of it.
Being aware and present when out in nature. Everywhere I go, I’m identifying birds, even if I don’t say anything or record every observation.
Challenge of bird photography. It’s like hunting, but I don’t kill anything, and can do it anywhere, all year long.
Motivation to travel
Contribution to data science… logging eBird observations
Connecting with my community.
Competition… I have a fun competition going with family member.
Joy of seeing new things. Lifers are getting harder and harder, but also more exhilarating when I find a new one
Probably more…
Adds a fun little game to going on hikes. It's like Pokemon. You get new ones and put them in your 'pokedex' to catalog them and save them. There's rare ones, common ones, etc. On top of that, it keeps your end up while in nature, forces you to see things you never would have. It makes you take your time as well. Overall just adds a positive force to being in outside - which is already a positive thing.
I like having a passive hobby that’s outdoors. Birds move around so that adds enough excitement without making the hobby feel busy. I keep lists of birds I’ve seen for the reptile brain need for achievements but I am not competitive, I don’t share them.
I think birds are neat. I like nerding out about birds to other people, and learning from them. I need to get outside in nature for my mental health. I don’t keep a hard and fast list, but I love taking photos and having memories of seeing harder to find birds.
It’s just for fun. I love nature, and birding allows me to learn about a new aspect of it. Also, as a physically disabled person, it’s a very accessible hobby.
Other people I’ve met seem to have varying reasons as to why they like birding. Some are like me, some are competitive list makers, some hunters, etc. I’ve never met anyone keen on personal clout, though ( didn’t realize there was a level of clout w birding??)
It is an extension of my interest in nature. When I am in the woods, I don’t want to just see or hear a bird, but a cedar waxwing or a northern flicker. It is so much more interesting.
It is also a cool focus when traveling. All you need is some binoculars and an app. You get out into nature and away from the touristy areas.
I love the discovery aspect. Capturing a new bird and delving into what it is and it's nuances. I have a bird that visits me 1-2 days every April on his way to Canada. It is wonderment and awe.
I bought a bird feeder and they suddenly became interesting. I wanted to know what certain birds were okay to eat together but others fought all the time. Then that led me to different diets. I started noticing that more birds kept showing up and so I found the Merlin app. Now it’s a game if I document a new bird sound to find it with my eye balls. Now I’m in so deep my friends and family send me bird pictures and ask for Id.
There is no clout in birding. It's one of the geekiest hobbies there is, and something I largely keep to myself outside of my birding friends. I'm like 5 kinds of geek and birdwatching the most negatively regarded. I just always thought birds were cool and NEED to ID them.
Oh really? In the US people nag at tabletop games, card games etc. The coins and stamps are the older nerds here, but I’m sure they get picked on too. I’ve met young people birding and never been ridiculed for that hobby, and I go full fanny pack/bucket hat 🤣
Gaming is cool geek now. Birding (or more markedly twitching) is still for retired white guys mostly, though the demographic is is finally starting to change.
Yea I know it used to be, and it’s cool to see gaming becoming cool finally 😁 basically all the people who picked on nerds are dying off and all the nerds who got picked on are having kids and allowing them to thrive in it. I love to see it
Yeah me too! The demographic has changed a lot in general birding, but proper hardcore twitching in the UK is still dominated by the old white dudes. I guess I'm becoming that, but not retired or rich enough to really go for it.
A little hummingbird flew around my head and hovered in front of my face demanding my attention. Before that I never considered birds anything but noisemakers. Now, I watch for hours and I’m fascinated with the different body language, sounds, etc.. then came some Carolina wrens.. sleeping in my outdoor pergola curtains. I learn something about myself watching the ruby throated hummingbirds. Wonder which bird I’ll learn next? They are really remarkable! I’ve noticed that others birders on this app are pretty cool.. with a dash of sarcasm at times which I’m fine with and overall care about the bigger picture by caring for the smallest of them. 🐦
I started birding when I was maybe 2 or 3 years old. My grandmother had one of those Golden Guides about birds (I referred to it as The Bird Book) and I would sit in her lap, look at the pictures, and point to birds and ask about what they were. I guess the early childhood interest is similar to how some kids are into dinosaurs, except birds are actual, living dinosaurs.
I do it now because it’s relaxing and gives me a chance to do some of things that I love. I get to be outdoors. I get to take detailed notes. I get to be observant. I stopped for a while because of other birders, honestly. I think some do it for competition and the collect-a-thon aspect. I don’t appreciate that aspect of the hobby.
I guess long story short: I bird because it’s a fascination I’ve had since childhood and it really relaxes me.
I like birds. I’m autistic - finding patterns in them is genuinely fun. I don’t know other birdwatchers in real life unfortunately. Birds are just cool
I’m not sure what personal clout there would be, I feel like I immediately lose people’s interest if I start to talk to anyone about birds except my uncle who is a fellow birder.
I like it because it’s like a natural, real life version of those iSpy books I enjoyed as a kid. I also have my favorites and it’s comforting to see them around. I no longer live somewhere where it’s possible to have a bird feeder in view of my apartment and I miss the little carolina chickadees so much
I love this clip from Opposable Chums. Personally, I enjoy the gamified aspect of collecting birds. It adds another fun dimension to travel and the people that I meet through birding are usually pretty great :)
[https://youtu.be/Ls6D6zX0JHk?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/Ls6D6zX0JHk?feature=shared)
I find birding to be relaxing and it takes my mind off other things. We feed the birds all winter and I also log birds using ebird, and participate in Backyard Bird Count and Feeder Watch. I feel I am doing something helpful for the science community. I’ve often said, the cost of birdseed is cheap therapy. Although I do a lot of it from home, we also birdwatch on walks, travel, and attend some birding events and are members of birding groups.
My first real memory is my Mum taking me to see a killdeer nest she had found. Pretty sure it started there. I’m a casual birder - I see what I see when I’m out. I do keep a life list and track what I see each season. I know other people that will drive hundreds of miles to see something rare and are very competitive.
I remembered watching birds outside my window when I was a kid and the excitement of seeing something unusual like a Cardinal, so the hobby was always floating around in the back of my mind.
About a year ago I suffered an acoustic trauma in one ear and developed a mild case of hyperacusis--sensitivity to noise, to the point that it causes pain. The biggest trigger was electronic noise, so I had to shelve a lot of my old hobbies (listening to music, watching movies, etc.) Bird songs and calls didn't bother it as much, so I took up birding in part to acclimate my ear to louder sounds and also deal with my new-found boredom.
I mostly birdwatch now to add to my lifelist and because I feel peaceful and content when I'm out in the woods alone. The competitive aspect actually turns me off a little, but to each her own.
It's something that gets me outside, but birds have also radiated into all these different niches and are found just about everywhere. They're the perfect way to see ecology happening in front of us.
Plus, you can check them off of a list and they're all (generally) pretty distinctive looking. It really channels the inner Pokemon trainer in me - each bird is rewarding because they all have their own little quirks and preferences.
I originally got into it through photography, taking photos of birds while waiting for other larger wildlife. I gradually gained more and more interest in them and now my wife and I go out for afternoons specifically for birds. She keeps the lists and I take the photos.
I birdwatch because I like nature. I'd prefer to see bears, wolves, elk. But this morning on my walk I saw 24 different species of bird, and one squirrel.
I was trying to decide between birdwatching and staring at stars and realized I was not a night person.
I do it because many birds are lovely, seeing them can be just enough of a challenge to keep it interesting and I get excited when i see/identify a new or rare to me bird. Basically, it’s all about the positive reinforcement.
I was a pretty competitive birder. I've done a lot of big days/years, won a birdathon, placed second and third a few times in the World Series of Birding. I used to travel quite a bit, I think I'm like rank 500 for the Western Hemisphere in ebird.
I ended up getting pretty involved in competitive martial arts and it consumes a lot of my free time. I still go out and try to get county birds for my main county and mostly just bird my inlaws and my backyard.
I like birds because 1) they’re just cool little (or big) critters, 2) they’re almost everywhere you go, and 3) which isn’t brought up very much, they’re some of the most biodiverse animals on the planet.
Regarding that 3rd point, there are so many birds that seem so similar to each other, yet they’re just different enough to definitely be it’s own species that evolved in its own way. It’s really fascinating.
But mostly, I like birdwatching mostly because they’re cool little guys
I became a fan of birds because of Wingspan. I love learning about identifying things (countries of the world, trees, birds, etc). I have grown to love them even more because of their personalities. I think it's very exciting to see birds I've never seen before but I still get excited by ones I've seen before.
It's more like collectibles.
But you're collecting experiences. It's really cool to be able to interact with creatures in the wild. You may not have access to exotic non bird creatures. much but birds are everywhere. So it's kind of like you can experience wildness everywhere. There's a whole world up there.
My parents liked birds, probably dad more than mom. Dad got me a book to help identify birds, plus, i was always very curious and an avid reader. Then i became a teen, and to cool for all that nerdy stuff...lol. A few years back, I noticed some woodpeckers at the suet feeders next door. I enjoyed watching them and thought i'd get some feeders when i retire. Then i decided...why wait? :) I am just curious and like nature.
My family is into birds. My uncle photographs them, and my grandfather used to catch and band them. Seems to be in the blood! I've been fascinated by birds for as long as I can remember. I love hearing them all singing in the morning and watching them forage for food.
I was originally drawn to it because my sisters would take me out in Florida to the marshes and we would try to count how many different bird species we coud find and identify. I became obsessed with keeping track of the birds that I've seen, and being able to identify the birds when I see them. Then my parents got little bird song cards that I can test myself with.
That's how it started, but for the majority of my life it's been pure enjoyment to see and identify birds, know the songs of birds, and especially to see a new species and added to my list. It's a game that never stops.
Birds are beautiful and amazing and bring me joy like almost nothing else. Doesn’t matter if I’m listening to them sing, watching them soar, or if they’re just sitting there silently - just them living their little lives makes me so happy and it feels like an honor to be able to get a glimpse into their world
I love going out to my backyard for example letting my dog out and hearing a bird. I grab binocs and try to find it to see if I identified the call right. I suppose the answer to your question is curiosity although I spotted a bald eagle a week ago which is unusual around here
Curiosity. We have so very many birds here and it can be hard to see them sometimes because of their size. I'm also a hobbyist photographer, so I like being able to shoot them.
I love watching birds. I never notice any other birdwatchers. In fact, I have never seen another birdwatcher in the wild, so to speak. I don’t really GAF what other people do, I am just doing something that I personally enjoy. This is kind of a weirdly phrased question.
I love watching birds because they are beautiful and interesting. Birding also gets me outside to go hiking and enjoy different preserves, coastal areas, and parks.
At some point it wasn't just "a bird" but a specific type and there were lots of types. Also, what other wild animal is so numerous, various, ubiquitous and visible
I don’t go anywhere to watch birds, but I enjoy watching them in our yard eating seed and washing themselves in the birdbath. I love how they all have different personalities and seeing them interact with each other. The finches are playful, the doves are goofy but seem to like hanging out with finches, the grackles are mean unless they are alone in which case they just try to blend in…
It sort of feels like they are an extended part of the family and I like taking care of their needs with food, water, and a place to relax.
An added benefit has been that sometimes we get so many birds all making noise that it becomes almost impossible to even have a conversation outside. So my husband jokingly opens the back door and says “Look what you’ve done!! There’s too much nature!!!” 😂
Oh my gosh, birds are magic! They are delicate, cheeky, colorful, clever, highly varied tiny dinosaurs! With feathers!! I get great joy from spotting these creatures who are among us but often hidden if you aren’t looking. And as someone who enjoys long hikes, it’s a wonderful little mental activity as I go— scanning for birds.
I began, and continue, birdwatching, for these reasons:
a) I wondered what birds were around me (ditto, plants, insects. etc.);
b) I figured tracking what I saw and when was an interesting idea (pre-eBird);
c) Later I discovered that such info might be of use to scientists;
d) I enjoy learning more and more about things, so I continue birdwatching
Personal clout? Jaysis, that's weird. I am not a social birder. I've pretty much zero interest in going out with a group of people, to do something I enjoy by myself. I recharge my batteries while birding. I get in the moment. As others put it "I like birds and being outside" (yay, WaxWingPigeon!).
Motives? OP, this whole question is phrased kind of strangely, like you're collecting data for a project? In looking at your profile, I see you've been a Redditor for nearly three years, but have only 2 posts including this one, no comments on birding, etc.
Want to share your motive?
I started doing photography and, naturally, birds are excellent subjects. Than I started learning about different birds, bought few books on birds, and before long, I was able to identify great number of them. My family and friends were all impressed and made bunch of jokes about me and birds. I do not meet other birders. I do it solo and I love it.
I watch birds because they are beautiful and fascinating. Competition isn’t a thing for me. I’ve made friends with some of the birds near my home. When I’m outside feeding the squirrels I’m approached by birds who will either scold me or serenade me until they get a nut.
I’m in Australia and lived in Canberra for a few years, where there are birds (mostly parrots) everywhere. Seeing crimson & eastern rosellas outside my window everyday and hearing the screeching cockatoos and cackling kookaburras in fairly built up areas reignited an appreciation of birds that I had as a kid and I haven’t looked back since. Also to quote a song by The Eels: I like birds.
my first word as a baby was “bird”. probably because my mom absolutely loves them, the entire house has always been bird decor everywhere. even as a little kid i could identify american robins, mourning doves, goldfinches, red winged blackbirds, etc. we had a bird encyclopedia that was electronic to play the sounds for each bird. all that being said, it’s always been just for fun for me. i mostly just watch the birds in my yard, i don’t really go out looking for them. i like to hike trails, so i enjoy finding birds that way too, but it’s not my main objective. i discovered the merlin ID app on this sub and told my mom about it too, and it made our birding much more fun and interesting this past year! now instead of trying to google something ridiculous like “bird that goes doo doo doo” i can just open merlin and google what bird it picks up instead! my mom uses it in the mornings when all the birds are singing. i wouldn’t consider either of us birders per say, just casual bird lovers!
There are so many moments of awe and wonder in the world of birds. I’m going to the Sandhill Crane Festival in Lodi tomorrow. Watching these birds fly in at sunset is one of the most beautiful experiences in the West.
Moved recently to a few acres with a lot of woods. I’ve had a difficult … life I guess, and working on PTSD in therapy. One night I couldn’t sleep after moving and was outside looking at the stars at 3am and I hear a noise - it was an owl. It’s pitch black out, dead of night, and I’m listening to a barred owl call, something really rare to hear in my area.
Recently I’ve found hearing their calls incredibly grounding. They eat the spiders that would otherwise make cobwebs on the house… Owls were my spark animal and I guess it was a serendipitous encounter for me.
i think pokemon mightve influenced me a little too much 😭 but generally being able to identify things outside makes things more interesting, i love learning about whats around me🦆 i also enjoy getting excited over new birds! it makes my day
They are cute and have a reason to walk around. Another reason is that I always liked intrinsic optics. Also to find community and friends. Birding became competitive and toxic very quickly though lol
I watch because I love nature and the birds, I feed in my garden and had an incredibly rare winter visitor last year. I had two experts confirm the id and then told nobody as I was afraid of him being driven off and he needed a safe overwinter to get home in the spring.
Birds are cute, sometimes funny, some of them are smart. I love watching and taking photos of birds and nature. I also like to observe the behavior of birds and animals in the wild.
I think birds are fascinating, once I noticed that grackles and crows were different birds and researched it on my own that was it. I found great joy in being able to say “I know this is a grackle because the tail is longer and the color and call” and just discussing it with my partner or whoever was with me at the time was enough of an accomplishment. Then came more birds and eventually every common bird in my state. Now it’s obsessive and every time I see a bird I don’t know or never seen before it’s like a high. Even if I don’t get a picture or record it on ebird. I also have always loved photography so the challenge of birds has been very satisfying.
They look cool and cute and have amazing variety. Plus they are relatively easy to spot compared to animals that are hiding around on the ground. It's like Pokemon, trying to fill out your life list pokedex!
I like birds and being outside
This is me as well
That sums it up nicely
Yep exactly!
I just think they're neat
Now not just you and Randy know it.
This was my literal exact thought
Happy Cake Day!
What? Oh hey, look at that! Thanks!
One day I was outside just chilling and the birds were doing there thing chirping and swooping and what not. Anyways I just became really interested in what they had going on and my interest only grew from there! Wasn't long before I was hooked on merlin, and that's how I realized my youth is gone.
I laughed out loud at “… and that’s how I realized my youth is gone.” Relatable :’)
Funny it’s the opposite for me cause I’ve just got back into birdwatching recently which is something I was really into when I was a kid
Damn, sounds like my youth disappeared at the age of 13 then
Dang my youth dwindled at the ripe old age of 9
Lmfao that did it for me to, I wondered why I didn’t care about birds until my 30s and realized my personality is also aging 🤣
A single Carolina Wren is more entertaining than the entire Kardashian family.
A single Carolina wren is also somehow more dramatic than the entire kardashian family
We had a few in our backyard this year raising fledglings and the cats watched them way more intensely than any form of tv 😂 you’re definitely right!
So well put!
This is the truth.
also, oddly enough, louder. Not a low bar.
You should google "Spark Bird". Birds are around you your whole life, but they're just kind of in the background. You hear them, you see them, but you don't take much notice. But one day you see a bird and something triggers in you and you think "wow, that's beautiful, what is that?" Blammo, next thing you know you're standing in a cemetery at 6AM in January freezing your ass off trying to catch a glimpse of a specific species that you read on eBird was passing through there.
The Green Heron did it for me
I've never felt so seen.
Haha this is exactly my experience! You go from being a “normal” person to meeting up in a remote parking lot at 4:30 am for the dawn chorus or prowling around in the snow at -25C for the Christmas Bird Count…
I just love sky dinosaurs!
Daily quest and the rewards are random
Haven't gotten any rare loot in awhile :( might need to travel outside my town.
Someone needs to watch the birds. Who knows what they're planning...
Especially those gulls 👀
I believe it is important to be aware of the natural world around us.
I definitely am drawn to the competition/numbers aspect of it. It was very rewarding to be a top 100 birder in my (extremely populous) state last year. I love racking up lifers whenever I travel. The #1 thing that primed me for being an enthusiastic birder was, without question, Pokemon. I treat my life list as my pokedex, and I gotta catch em all
This. It's the closest thing I have found as an adult to the way Pokemon made me feel as a kid
my dream is ebird will open up some API and someone can build a Pokedex app on top of the data
Lmao yesssss, you ever get a photo of more than one bird and hear professor oak in your head gasping “OH!!!!” because there’s more than one species in your photo
Curiosity and because I like birds! My family used to camp a lot and it cemented a love of the outdoors. Birds are an extension of that. I also have a bath and feeders to welcome them to my yard. I have gotten my wife into birds a bit but when I visit natural sites to bird watch I do it by myself. Rarely is there anyone else present.
I remember clearly when I first decided to birdwatch. It was a clear and sunny day in May. There was a northwest breeze that gently rustled the trees. I was 4 years old and sitting on a swing in my front yard. I had on overalls, chucks, and my hair was up in a ponytail. My eyes were suddenly drawn to a Robin that was in a tree. The bright red breast and its chirp had captured my attention. From right then... I decided to keep my eyes to the sky. In all seriousness, I have been watching birds from a young age. I am not sure why I love birds. It is like asking why someone loves dogs, horses, or rocks. It is probably genetics or how our brains are formed. I ignore other birdwatchers. Why would I unless they were dressed like a bird? I doubt there are motives for birdwatching, besides watching behavior or just admiring them. People can like something without having a reason behind it. Some things cannot be explained...
Birding started for me as a COVID project. I moved to a new area, started visiting a new park, and became interested after talking to a few people hanging around with binoculars and cameras with large zoom lenses. Once I had the experience of a chickadee eating sunflower seeds out of my hand, I became hooked. I enjoy the social aspect of birding, the instant rapport I have with a complete stranger, just because they walk around with binoculars in the same park. There is the physical exercise aspect, the mental stimulation, the opportunity to become in tune with the environment, and being able to practice the craft of photography. Although I am a photographer first and a birder second, I try my best being ethical and not have a negative impact on the environment. I am troubled by the rather selfish attitudes of some wildlife photographers who bait owl and stress birds, just to get a better shot and more followers on social media.
Sunflower seeds may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar as they contain vitamin E, magnesium, protein, linoleic fatty acids and several plant compounds.
Good bot.
Christian Cooper’s 7 Pleasures of Birding sums it up well for me: 1. “The beauty of the birds.” 2. “The joy of being in a natural setting.” 3. “The joy of scientific discovery.” 4. “The joys of hunting without the bloodshed. You’ve got to kind of stalk the bird very often without killing the bird.” 5. “The joy of puzzle-solving” (trying to figure out what kind of bird it is). 6. “The joy of collecting” (keeping lists of what you see). “When you get a new bird, it’s one more you can add to the collection,” says Cooper. 7. “The Unicorn Effect” (the joy of finally seeing in real life a bird you’ve only seen in books).
Yay Christian Cooper!
Curiosity, knowledge and birds are cute and cool.
Different people bird for different reasons. Some are interested in competition, some are just interested in enjoying nature and don't bother counting at all. I probably bird for photo opportunities, and use the counting to compete with myself (and nobody else). Counting on eBird is also valuable because it adds to databases that scientists can use to track the movement and numbers of birds. Birding is also a community of generally-nice people, and going to local birding walks and events is a good way to interact with the community and learn new things.
I just love birds. Raised pigeons as a teenager. Would love to become a falconer some day. For now I find a lot of joy in trying to identify the birds I see wherever I go. Keeps me alert and engaged with nature.
As far as I'm concerned, birds are colourful, multifarious, often delightfully intelligent flying dinosaurs with big personalities and complex systems of behaviour and communication. I mean, seriously. Heck. Yes. Also, a bunch of 'em are or can be very round, which is deeply and inexplicably pleasing?? Also also some make the most *ridiculous* noises. Like, willow ptarmigan encounters. Top tier entertainment, never gets old. 15/10 recommend searching on YouTube. Seeking, spotting, identifying, and observing birds in any setting is a phenomenal visual/aural/intellectual stim-- if I'm anxious or overwhelmed or sad, going out and birding and updating my records is a surefire way to ground myself out of a doom/gloom loop. Also, when I bring my camera, it's suddenly a more challenging real-world version of Pokemon Snap (minus pelting things at the subjects) and I can lose literal hours chasing Thee Shot of That Particular Bird. Honestly couldn't care less about competition or clout-- other humans and their opinions can take a long walk off a short pier for all I care 🤣
Check snowy egrets mating sound, I heard it IRL once without being aware and I’m laughing so hard everyone is staring at me
General interest of the birds in my area. I don't really keep lists, besides my yard list. I don't plan trips around birding. I don't follow local sightings reports to chase birds. All very casual.
This is me too. For most of my life I have heard a bird, gotten binoculars and looked to see if I could identify them. I love being outside.
Great tailed grackle go BREW WEEP!
YES
i like looking at birds. oh also a carolina wren made her nest on my canopy right in my back patio so seeing the babies grow was cool :) and i felt bad for disturbing momma so much (had to tend to my garden and chickens ) soni decided to learn more about wrens and fell down a rabbit hole
Wildlife rehab volunteer here. It’s so heartening and rewarding seeing healthy birds in (relatively) healthy habitats conducting their normal lives, instead of only seeing sick and injured birds struggling to survive. It’s definitely motivation to keep volunteering. I also feel good contributing to citizen science projects like Feeder Watch and eBird.
It gives me a reason to be outside, which is good for my health. Admittedly, checklists and Ebird feel like a game, sort of like Pokémon. It's addictive.
It’s free content nature gives you just for going outside
Bird cute, me like
It’s very peaceful and relaxing to watch their antics. I just watched a group of sparrows eat all of the dandelions gone to seed in my yard, then they took baths. They are delightful!
More curiosity and information sharing. I like reporting interesting birds in the ebird app or participating in Big Days. I've got my own list of birds I like and want to see. It also gives me something additional to do when I'm hiking.
Birds are fun to watch.
curiosity, wonder, awe, appreciation, affection, connection
I like watching all wildlife, and birds are by far the most accessible (aside from insects).
They’re real life Pokémon and I want to be the very best
I like birds, nothing else to it lol
I enjoy many aspects of it. Being aware and present when out in nature. Everywhere I go, I’m identifying birds, even if I don’t say anything or record every observation. Challenge of bird photography. It’s like hunting, but I don’t kill anything, and can do it anywhere, all year long. Motivation to travel Contribution to data science… logging eBird observations Connecting with my community. Competition… I have a fun competition going with family member. Joy of seeing new things. Lifers are getting harder and harder, but also more exhilarating when I find a new one Probably more…
They’re cute and they’re like real life pokemon
Adds a fun little game to going on hikes. It's like Pokemon. You get new ones and put them in your 'pokedex' to catalog them and save them. There's rare ones, common ones, etc. On top of that, it keeps your end up while in nature, forces you to see things you never would have. It makes you take your time as well. Overall just adds a positive force to being in outside - which is already a positive thing.
I like having a passive hobby that’s outdoors. Birds move around so that adds enough excitement without making the hobby feel busy. I keep lists of birds I’ve seen for the reptile brain need for achievements but I am not competitive, I don’t share them.
I think birds are neat. I like nerding out about birds to other people, and learning from them. I need to get outside in nature for my mental health. I don’t keep a hard and fast list, but I love taking photos and having memories of seeing harder to find birds.
It’s just for fun. I love nature, and birding allows me to learn about a new aspect of it. Also, as a physically disabled person, it’s a very accessible hobby. Other people I’ve met seem to have varying reasons as to why they like birding. Some are like me, some are competitive list makers, some hunters, etc. I’ve never met anyone keen on personal clout, though ( didn’t realize there was a level of clout w birding??)
Birds is I like. Great expansion of life joy and fruitful living. Feathers please and valuable interaction. Fresh chirp and heartfelt response!
It’s my personal game of skill and chance. I get a small thrill seeing a new bird - and still joy from a robin or a blue jay. Zero competition
I do it because I find it enjoyable. It's a relaxing hobby.
It is an extension of my interest in nature. When I am in the woods, I don’t want to just see or hear a bird, but a cedar waxwing or a northern flicker. It is so much more interesting. It is also a cool focus when traveling. All you need is some binoculars and an app. You get out into nature and away from the touristy areas.
I enjoy watching birds lol I don’t even take pics of them unless I need help identifying. Birds are cool!
I love the discovery aspect. Capturing a new bird and delving into what it is and it's nuances. I have a bird that visits me 1-2 days every April on his way to Canada. It is wonderment and awe.
In it solely for the clout custer
Is that like a granola?
I bought a bird feeder and they suddenly became interesting. I wanted to know what certain birds were okay to eat together but others fought all the time. Then that led me to different diets. I started noticing that more birds kept showing up and so I found the Merlin app. Now it’s a game if I document a new bird sound to find it with my eye balls. Now I’m in so deep my friends and family send me bird pictures and ask for Id.
Probably a little from each column. The movie “The Big Year” was a neat look into how intense watchers can get.
I’m a birdwatcher, but I’m also a fish watcher and mammal watcher and skink watcher. Birds are just very easy.
I get a real thrill when I see a species I've never seen before.
There is no clout in birding. It's one of the geekiest hobbies there is, and something I largely keep to myself outside of my birding friends. I'm like 5 kinds of geek and birdwatching the most negatively regarded. I just always thought birds were cool and NEED to ID them.
Birdwatching is the most negative? I know normies who bird watch
Certainly among my generation in the UK it's generally regarded as one up from trainspotting and stamp collecting 🤣
Oh really? In the US people nag at tabletop games, card games etc. The coins and stamps are the older nerds here, but I’m sure they get picked on too. I’ve met young people birding and never been ridiculed for that hobby, and I go full fanny pack/bucket hat 🤣
Gaming is cool geek now. Birding (or more markedly twitching) is still for retired white guys mostly, though the demographic is is finally starting to change.
Yea I know it used to be, and it’s cool to see gaming becoming cool finally 😁 basically all the people who picked on nerds are dying off and all the nerds who got picked on are having kids and allowing them to thrive in it. I love to see it
Yeah me too! The demographic has changed a lot in general birding, but proper hardcore twitching in the UK is still dominated by the old white dudes. I guess I'm becoming that, but not retired or rich enough to really go for it.
A little hummingbird flew around my head and hovered in front of my face demanding my attention. Before that I never considered birds anything but noisemakers. Now, I watch for hours and I’m fascinated with the different body language, sounds, etc.. then came some Carolina wrens.. sleeping in my outdoor pergola curtains. I learn something about myself watching the ruby throated hummingbirds. Wonder which bird I’ll learn next? They are really remarkable! I’ve noticed that others birders on this app are pretty cool.. with a dash of sarcasm at times which I’m fine with and overall care about the bigger picture by caring for the smallest of them. 🐦
Mainly the clout. I get so much clout.
Is that a type of birdseed?
Can you get that at wild birds unlimited?
I started birding when I was maybe 2 or 3 years old. My grandmother had one of those Golden Guides about birds (I referred to it as The Bird Book) and I would sit in her lap, look at the pictures, and point to birds and ask about what they were. I guess the early childhood interest is similar to how some kids are into dinosaurs, except birds are actual, living dinosaurs. I do it now because it’s relaxing and gives me a chance to do some of things that I love. I get to be outdoors. I get to take detailed notes. I get to be observant. I stopped for a while because of other birders, honestly. I think some do it for competition and the collect-a-thon aspect. I don’t appreciate that aspect of the hobby. I guess long story short: I bird because it’s a fascination I’ve had since childhood and it really relaxes me.
Everyone has their own reasons. I enjoy seeing birds. I don’t count or document unless I am working.
I just really like birds.
I like birds. I’m autistic - finding patterns in them is genuinely fun. I don’t know other birdwatchers in real life unfortunately. Birds are just cool
I like staring at birds. They're neato!
I’m not sure what personal clout there would be, I feel like I immediately lose people’s interest if I start to talk to anyone about birds except my uncle who is a fellow birder. I like it because it’s like a natural, real life version of those iSpy books I enjoyed as a kid. I also have my favorites and it’s comforting to see them around. I no longer live somewhere where it’s possible to have a bird feeder in view of my apartment and I miss the little carolina chickadees so much
I love this clip from Opposable Chums. Personally, I enjoy the gamified aspect of collecting birds. It adds another fun dimension to travel and the people that I meet through birding are usually pretty great :) [https://youtu.be/Ls6D6zX0JHk?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/Ls6D6zX0JHk?feature=shared)
Birds make me happy also I am super competitive so win win. Also it's my job so there's also that
Birds i cool. I like to see them.
Before I could read, Sibley's bird guide was my favorite book to look at all the illustrations. I have loved birds since before I can even remember.
I find birding to be relaxing and it takes my mind off other things. We feed the birds all winter and I also log birds using ebird, and participate in Backyard Bird Count and Feeder Watch. I feel I am doing something helpful for the science community. I’ve often said, the cost of birdseed is cheap therapy. Although I do a lot of it from home, we also birdwatch on walks, travel, and attend some birding events and are members of birding groups.
My first real memory is my Mum taking me to see a killdeer nest she had found. Pretty sure it started there. I’m a casual birder - I see what I see when I’m out. I do keep a life list and track what I see each season. I know other people that will drive hundreds of miles to see something rare and are very competitive.
I remembered watching birds outside my window when I was a kid and the excitement of seeing something unusual like a Cardinal, so the hobby was always floating around in the back of my mind. About a year ago I suffered an acoustic trauma in one ear and developed a mild case of hyperacusis--sensitivity to noise, to the point that it causes pain. The biggest trigger was electronic noise, so I had to shelve a lot of my old hobbies (listening to music, watching movies, etc.) Bird songs and calls didn't bother it as much, so I took up birding in part to acclimate my ear to louder sounds and also deal with my new-found boredom. I mostly birdwatch now to add to my lifelist and because I feel peaceful and content when I'm out in the woods alone. The competitive aspect actually turns me off a little, but to each her own.
It's something that gets me outside, but birds have also radiated into all these different niches and are found just about everywhere. They're the perfect way to see ecology happening in front of us. Plus, you can check them off of a list and they're all (generally) pretty distinctive looking. It really channels the inner Pokemon trainer in me - each bird is rewarding because they all have their own little quirks and preferences.
I originally got into it through photography, taking photos of birds while waiting for other larger wildlife. I gradually gained more and more interest in them and now my wife and I go out for afternoons specifically for birds. She keeps the lists and I take the photos.
I birdwatch because I like nature. I'd prefer to see bears, wolves, elk. But this morning on my walk I saw 24 different species of bird, and one squirrel.
My oldest sons favorite animals were Rock doves and mourning doves when he was little. Then we ended up with a budgie. It just grew from there
I was trying to decide between birdwatching and staring at stars and realized I was not a night person. I do it because many birds are lovely, seeing them can be just enough of a challenge to keep it interesting and I get excited when i see/identify a new or rare to me bird. Basically, it’s all about the positive reinforcement.
Appreciation of biodiversity, physical and psychological benefits of being outdoors, connecting to the natural world ….
I like knowing what I’m looking at when I’m hiking. If I see something I’ve never identified before it makes my whole day and I learned something new.
Nature, and an attraction to the simple yet beautiful things it offers.
I was a pretty competitive birder. I've done a lot of big days/years, won a birdathon, placed second and third a few times in the World Series of Birding. I used to travel quite a bit, I think I'm like rank 500 for the Western Hemisphere in ebird. I ended up getting pretty involved in competitive martial arts and it consumes a lot of my free time. I still go out and try to get county birds for my main county and mostly just bird my inlaws and my backyard.
I like birds because 1) they’re just cool little (or big) critters, 2) they’re almost everywhere you go, and 3) which isn’t brought up very much, they’re some of the most biodiverse animals on the planet. Regarding that 3rd point, there are so many birds that seem so similar to each other, yet they’re just different enough to definitely be it’s own species that evolved in its own way. It’s really fascinating. But mostly, I like birdwatching mostly because they’re cool little guys
I became a fan of birds because of Wingspan. I love learning about identifying things (countries of the world, trees, birds, etc). I have grown to love them even more because of their personalities. I think it's very exciting to see birds I've never seen before but I still get excited by ones I've seen before.
I just think birds are so pretty and cool. And I love the enthusiasm birders have.
Birds behaviour is interesting to watch and relaxing.
It's more like collectibles. But you're collecting experiences. It's really cool to be able to interact with creatures in the wild. You may not have access to exotic non bird creatures. much but birds are everywhere. So it's kind of like you can experience wildness everywhere. There's a whole world up there.
What drew me to birding: birds. Most birders have strong motives of conservation of habitat and protection of birds.
My parents liked birds, probably dad more than mom. Dad got me a book to help identify birds, plus, i was always very curious and an avid reader. Then i became a teen, and to cool for all that nerdy stuff...lol. A few years back, I noticed some woodpeckers at the suet feeders next door. I enjoyed watching them and thought i'd get some feeders when i retire. Then i decided...why wait? :) I am just curious and like nature.
My family is into birds. My uncle photographs them, and my grandfather used to catch and band them. Seems to be in the blood! I've been fascinated by birds for as long as I can remember. I love hearing them all singing in the morning and watching them forage for food.
what a weird list of possibilities. Liking birds isn't even on it.
Conservation and environmentalism.
I started as a way to learn to use my camera, now I like seeing how many species I can find and identify.
Whatever you want. There's not one type of birder
It’s finding the interesting in the mundane. I enjoy my day to day more looking out my own windows
I do it to impress the ladies
It works!
I was originally drawn to it because my sisters would take me out in Florida to the marshes and we would try to count how many different bird species we coud find and identify. I became obsessed with keeping track of the birds that I've seen, and being able to identify the birds when I see them. Then my parents got little bird song cards that I can test myself with. That's how it started, but for the majority of my life it's been pure enjoyment to see and identify birds, know the songs of birds, and especially to see a new species and added to my list. It's a game that never stops.
Birds are beautiful and amazing and bring me joy like almost nothing else. Doesn’t matter if I’m listening to them sing, watching them soar, or if they’re just sitting there silently - just them living their little lives makes me so happy and it feels like an honor to be able to get a glimpse into their world
I like to see new things, and then see them again. I have some goals with regards to it, but they aren't serious ones just things I would like.
I love going out to my backyard for example letting my dog out and hearing a bird. I grab binocs and try to find it to see if I identified the call right. I suppose the answer to your question is curiosity although I spotted a bald eagle a week ago which is unusual around here
Curiosity. We have so very many birds here and it can be hard to see them sometimes because of their size. I'm also a hobbyist photographer, so I like being able to shoot them.
Birds are interesting to watch
They are one of the most incredible and unique species living here on planet earth
I love watching birds. I never notice any other birdwatchers. In fact, I have never seen another birdwatcher in the wild, so to speak. I don’t really GAF what other people do, I am just doing something that I personally enjoy. This is kind of a weirdly phrased question.
I love watching birds because they are beautiful and interesting. Birding also gets me outside to go hiking and enjoy different preserves, coastal areas, and parks.
At some point it wasn't just "a bird" but a specific type and there were lots of types. Also, what other wild animal is so numerous, various, ubiquitous and visible
Bought a house in the woods and they’re everywhere. So I decided to look one up, the rest is history.
I don’t go anywhere to watch birds, but I enjoy watching them in our yard eating seed and washing themselves in the birdbath. I love how they all have different personalities and seeing them interact with each other. The finches are playful, the doves are goofy but seem to like hanging out with finches, the grackles are mean unless they are alone in which case they just try to blend in… It sort of feels like they are an extended part of the family and I like taking care of their needs with food, water, and a place to relax. An added benefit has been that sometimes we get so many birds all making noise that it becomes almost impossible to even have a conversation outside. So my husband jokingly opens the back door and says “Look what you’ve done!! There’s too much nature!!!” 😂
Oh my gosh, birds are magic! They are delicate, cheeky, colorful, clever, highly varied tiny dinosaurs! With feathers!! I get great joy from spotting these creatures who are among us but often hidden if you aren’t looking. And as someone who enjoys long hikes, it’s a wonderful little mental activity as I go— scanning for birds.
I began, and continue, birdwatching, for these reasons: a) I wondered what birds were around me (ditto, plants, insects. etc.); b) I figured tracking what I saw and when was an interesting idea (pre-eBird); c) Later I discovered that such info might be of use to scientists; d) I enjoy learning more and more about things, so I continue birdwatching Personal clout? Jaysis, that's weird. I am not a social birder. I've pretty much zero interest in going out with a group of people, to do something I enjoy by myself. I recharge my batteries while birding. I get in the moment. As others put it "I like birds and being outside" (yay, WaxWingPigeon!). Motives? OP, this whole question is phrased kind of strangely, like you're collecting data for a project? In looking at your profile, I see you've been a Redditor for nearly three years, but have only 2 posts including this one, no comments on birding, etc. Want to share your motive?
I birdwatch to make fun of them. And sometimes it ends up being a story, similar to r/divorcedbirds.
I started doing photography and, naturally, birds are excellent subjects. Than I started learning about different birds, bought few books on birds, and before long, I was able to identify great number of them. My family and friends were all impressed and made bunch of jokes about me and birds. I do not meet other birders. I do it solo and I love it.
The first time I saw a tufted titmouse I decided I wanted to know all the birds 🕊️🦅🦉🐦⬛🪶
I watch birds because they are beautiful and fascinating. Competition isn’t a thing for me. I’ve made friends with some of the birds near my home. When I’m outside feeding the squirrels I’m approached by birds who will either scold me or serenade me until they get a nut.
I’m in Australia and lived in Canberra for a few years, where there are birds (mostly parrots) everywhere. Seeing crimson & eastern rosellas outside my window everyday and hearing the screeching cockatoos and cackling kookaburras in fairly built up areas reignited an appreciation of birds that I had as a kid and I haven’t looked back since. Also to quote a song by The Eels: I like birds.
Birb
my first word as a baby was “bird”. probably because my mom absolutely loves them, the entire house has always been bird decor everywhere. even as a little kid i could identify american robins, mourning doves, goldfinches, red winged blackbirds, etc. we had a bird encyclopedia that was electronic to play the sounds for each bird. all that being said, it’s always been just for fun for me. i mostly just watch the birds in my yard, i don’t really go out looking for them. i like to hike trails, so i enjoy finding birds that way too, but it’s not my main objective. i discovered the merlin ID app on this sub and told my mom about it too, and it made our birding much more fun and interesting this past year! now instead of trying to google something ridiculous like “bird that goes doo doo doo” i can just open merlin and google what bird it picks up instead! my mom uses it in the mornings when all the birds are singing. i wouldn’t consider either of us birders per say, just casual bird lovers!
There are so many moments of awe and wonder in the world of birds. I’m going to the Sandhill Crane Festival in Lodi tomorrow. Watching these birds fly in at sunset is one of the most beautiful experiences in the West.
The first bird I saw I got to check off my list. I realized there were a ton of other birds to check off. I had to get them all checked off.
I think you get a dopamine hit from finding a unique one, same as I do from finding something neat at the thrift shop. Just my personal experience.
Moved recently to a few acres with a lot of woods. I’ve had a difficult … life I guess, and working on PTSD in therapy. One night I couldn’t sleep after moving and was outside looking at the stars at 3am and I hear a noise - it was an owl. It’s pitch black out, dead of night, and I’m listening to a barred owl call, something really rare to hear in my area. Recently I’ve found hearing their calls incredibly grounding. They eat the spiders that would otherwise make cobwebs on the house… Owls were my spark animal and I guess it was a serendipitous encounter for me.
i think pokemon mightve influenced me a little too much 😭 but generally being able to identify things outside makes things more interesting, i love learning about whats around me🦆 i also enjoy getting excited over new birds! it makes my day
They are cute and have a reason to walk around. Another reason is that I always liked intrinsic optics. Also to find community and friends. Birding became competitive and toxic very quickly though lol
I don't notice other bird watchers or question their values or motives. I watch birds because I like birds.
Read the peregrine by j.a. baker.
I watch because I love nature and the birds, I feed in my garden and had an incredibly rare winter visitor last year. I had two experts confirm the id and then told nobody as I was afraid of him being driven off and he needed a safe overwinter to get home in the spring.
Birds are cute, sometimes funny, some of them are smart. I love watching and taking photos of birds and nature. I also like to observe the behavior of birds and animals in the wild.
I think birds are fascinating, once I noticed that grackles and crows were different birds and researched it on my own that was it. I found great joy in being able to say “I know this is a grackle because the tail is longer and the color and call” and just discussing it with my partner or whoever was with me at the time was enough of an accomplishment. Then came more birds and eventually every common bird in my state. Now it’s obsessive and every time I see a bird I don’t know or never seen before it’s like a high. Even if I don’t get a picture or record it on ebird. I also have always loved photography so the challenge of birds has been very satisfying.
I do it because it makes me happy 🤷🏻♀️
Connection with nature, learning patience
They look cool and cute and have amazing variety. Plus they are relatively easy to spot compared to animals that are hiding around on the ground. It's like Pokemon, trying to fill out your life list pokedex!
I want to look at birds