Why birdwatching is booming among Gen Z
Gen Z finds both nature connection and social community through birding.
1Gen Z embraces birdwatching
When 15-year-old Ian Bell started birding alone in Central Park in 2021, he felt isolated among older enthusiasts. Today, he co-manages a 4,400-member Discord server for bird sightings. Cornell University's birding club and federal surveys show participation among 25-34-year-olds has quadrupled since 2016. Post-pandemic screen fatigue has driven Gen Z toward analog hobbies like birding.
2Technology makes birding accessible
The free Merlin app by Cornell Lab of Ornithology grew from 279,000 U.S. users in 2019 to 4.8 million in 2026. Using Cornell's eBird database, it helps beginners identify species. eBird director Christopher Wood notes birdwatching has become 'cool' and reconnects people with nature. Many users eventually put their phones away to fully engage with the experience.
3College birding clubs on the rise
National Audubon Society campus chapters exploded from zero to 117 in six years. The organization reports surging social media engagement among 20-30 year olds. While Merlin doesn't track age data, this campus growth proves younger generations' growing interest in birding as both hobby and community.
4How Gen Z gets into birding
22-year-old Shawn Wallace never planned to become a birder until his college advisor invited him to search for a tufted duck - common in Europe but rare in New York. After four unsuccessful hours, Wallace kept joining outings and fell down the 'birding rabbit hole.' His story reflects a common Gen Z pathway into the hobby.
5The power of mentoring relationships
Psychologist Jennifer Lodi-Smith spent four years collecting birders' origin stories. She found two-thirds of 600 narratives - including 96 from Gen Z - focused on interpersonal connections rather than birds themselves. Lodi-Smith's own journey began with 'spark people' rather than a 'spark bird,' a pattern she sees repeated across generations.
6Birding's intergenerational appeal
Longtime birder Robert Buckert describes the hobby's strength as its 'giving community full of mentors' that welcomes young people. In the digital age, these face-to-face mentoring relationships fulfill Gen Z's craving for real-world connection. Buckert's first mentee, Wallace, now introduces others to birding, continuing the cycle.
7Meeting Gen Z's social needs
Birding satisfies Gen Z's dual desires for nature immersion and authentic community. Buckert calls it 'a great avenue for that one-on-one mentor relationship people are dying for.' Wallace has convinced at least 10 friends to download Merlin and three to install backyard bird feeders, demonstrating the hobby's viral potential among peers.
8The future of analog hobbies
Birding's Gen Z popularity signals both digital detox trends and cross-generational bonding needs. Mentorship and nature contact address critical mental health needs for young adults. This resurgence suggests other analog hobbies may similarly regain relevance as Gen Z seeks balance between digital and physical worlds.
Original article: Fortune — Kuş gözlemciliği Gen Z arasında neden bu kadar popüler?