By Lina Irawan 
However, the landscape of birding has dramatically shifted in the five years since Bell first began his solo expeditions. Now, at 20, he co-runs a vibrant Discord server boasting 4,400 members who actively alert each other about bird sightings across various regions. This digital hub for ornithological enthusiasts is just one tangible manifestation of a sweeping cultural phenomenon: a massive surge in birding participation, particularly among Generation Z and young millennials. This boom is evident everywhere, from the suddenly overflowing birding club at Cornell University to comprehensive federal surveys indicating that birding participation among 25-to-34-year-olds has quadrupled since 2016. This represents a remarkable shift for a hobby traditionally perceived as the domain of older generations, signaling a profound re-evaluation of leisure activities among younger demographics.
The resurgence of birding is not an isolated trend but rather a prominent example of a broader "Gen Z analog hobby boom." Following the pervasive screen exhaustion exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a generation raised in an increasingly digital world is actively seeking offline, tactile, and real-world engagements. Hobbies like needlepoint, pottery, knitting, and even vinyl record collecting have seen a significant uptick in interest, as young people crave experiences that offer a respite from constant digital connectivity and the relentless notifications of modern life. Birding, with its inherent connection to nature and its requirement for presence and observation, fits perfectly into this paradigm. It offers an antidote to the digital deluge, encouraging participants to slow down, observe, and engage with their immediate environment in a mindful way. The pandemic, which forced many indoors and then prompted a renewed appreciation for outdoor spaces, likely served as a catalyst, pushing individuals to explore local parks and green areas, often discovering the rich avian life within them. This desire for authenticity and a tangible connection to the natural world has propelled birding from a niche pursuit to a decidedly "cool" and increasingly mainstream activity among the youth.
Paradoxically, while the underlying motivation often stems from a desire to disconnect, technology has played a pivotal and often enabling role in making birding more accessible and appealing to this new generation. The free bird-identification app, Merlin, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, stands as a prime example of this technological facilitation. Its user base in the U.S. exploded from just over 279,000 in July 2019 to an astonishing 4.8 million in July 2026. Merlin leverages sophisticated algorithms and Cornell’s vast eBird database—itself a monumental citizen science project—to help beginners identify common and rare bird species through sound, photo, or descriptive characteristics. This instantaneous identification capability removes a significant barrier to entry, transforming what could be an intimidating activity into an engaging, interactive learning experience. Users can simply point their phone, record a bird song, or snap a photo, and the app provides immediate, often accurate, identification, complete with species information, range maps, and similar calls. This "gamification" of identification, coupled with its ease of use, has demystified birding for countless newcomers.
Christopher Wood, the director of eBird, articulated this transformative impact to Fortune, stating, "Bird watching, I think, used to be sort of a very, very niche thing, and now it is a cool thing. It’s a mechanism that gets people outside and gets people in touch with nature, and then a percentage of those people start really understanding, learning those birds, and then they put their phone away completely." Wood’s observation highlights the dual function of technology in this context: it acts as an initial gateway, sparking interest and providing foundational knowledge, but for many, it eventually becomes a secondary tool or is set aside entirely as their expertise and connection to the natural world deepens. The ultimate goal, he suggests, is not perpetual screen engagement, but rather a profound, unmediated appreciation for wildlife. eBird, beyond Merlin, also offers a platform for citizen scientists to log their sightings, contributing to one of the world’s largest biodiversity databases. This allows birders to feel they are part of a larger scientific endeavor, adding another layer of meaning and purpose to their hobby. The comprehensive data collected through eBird helps researchers monitor bird populations, track migration patterns, and inform conservation efforts, making every birder a valuable contributor to ecological understanding.
While Merlin doesn’t directly track age data, the demographic shift is undeniably supported by other institutional metrics. The National Audubon Society, a venerable conservation organization, has witnessed a remarkable expansion of its presence on college campuses. In just six years, the number of its campus chapters has skyrocketed from zero to an impressive 117. This exponential growth signals a powerful groundswell of interest among university students, indicating a desire for organized engagement with nature and conservation. Furthermore, a spokesperson for the Audubon Society confirmed to Fortune via email that the organization is experiencing "a surge in our supporters in their 20s and 30s" across its social media platforms. These digital channels serve as crucial touchpoints for younger generations, offering educational content, community forums, and opportunities to participate in advocacy and conservation initiatives. The combination of grassroots student activism and increased digital engagement paints a clear picture of a demographic awakening to the allure and importance of birding.
However, delve deeper into the origin stories of these young birders, and a fascinating pattern emerges: few mention a specific "spark bird" – that singular, breathtaking encounter with a rare or beautiful species that ignites a lifelong passion. Instead, their entry into the world of ornithology is overwhelmingly human-centric.
Birding Meets Gen Z’s Yearning for Mentorship and Community
More than identifying birds or simply sitting in nature, a significant part of birding’s burgeoning appeal to Gen Z lies in the powerful draw of interpersonal connections, particularly the role of mentors and the sense of belonging within a supportive community. This generation, often characterized by its digital native status and a perceived struggle with social isolation despite constant online connectivity, is actively seeking authentic, face-to-face interactions and meaningful guidance. Birding, surprisingly, provides an ideal conduit for these deeply human needs.
Shawn Wallace, 22, embodies this trend. He didn’t initially plan on becoming a birder. His journey began not with a flash of avian brilliance, but with an invitation from his college resident advisor, Robert Buckert. Buckert, an experienced birder, invited Wallace to join him on a quest to find a tufted duck – a species common in Europe but a rare, exciting find in New York. "We spent like four hours looking for it, and we didn’t find it," Wallace recounted to Fortune. Despite the initial lack of success, the shared experience was transformative. "But then after that, whenever he went out, I tried to go out with him and I just continued down the rabbit hole." Wallace’s story isn’t about the duck; it’s about the shared pursuit, the camaraderie, and the guiding hand of a mentor.
This anecdotal evidence is powerfully reinforced by academic research. Jennifer Lodi-Smith, a psychologist at Canisius University, has dedicated four years to collecting and analyzing birders’ origin stories. Her extensive data set, comprising roughly 600 narratives – including 96 from Gen Z respondents – consistently reveals that more than two-thirds of these stories are fundamentally interpersonal rather than solely focused on the birds themselves. Lodi-Smith’s own birding journey mirrors her findings. "I don’t have a single spark-bird moment," she told Fortune. "I have spark people." This concept of "spark people" highlights the profound influence of human connection in fostering passion and sustained engagement, particularly for a generation that values authenticity and meaningful relationships.
Indeed, Robert Buckert, Wallace’s resident advisor and mentor, didn’t just introduce him to birding; he connected him to a wider network of enthusiasts. Buckert helped Wallace navigate the intricacies of the hobby, showing him the best spots and introducing him to other birders. Wallace noted that even the older crowd of birders, often perceived as somewhat exclusive, were "great people," readily welcoming him into their fold. This welcoming environment, characterized by shared knowledge and mutual support, is a defining feature of the birding community.
Buckert, a long-time birder himself, articulated the core strength of this community: "Birding’s strength is its giving and wonderful community full of mentors" that actively welcomes young people and provides them with a vital space to learn and belong – a sense of belonging he believes is increasingly missing in the digital age. He emphasizes that the appeal extends beyond the simple desire for outdoor activity. "When you’re surrounded by all these people that take you under their wing, pun intended, and mentor you so strongly, then you just get kind of swept into that," he explained to Fortune. "It’s not just the craving for the outdoors. It’s also that one-on-one mentor to mentee thing that people are dying for. It’s a great avenue for camaraderie and to learn from your elders."
This intergenerational exchange is a cornerstone of the birding community’s appeal. Older, more experienced birders readily share their vast knowledge of species identification, migration patterns, optimal viewing locations, and ethical birding practices. In return, they often gain fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm from their younger counterparts. This symbiotic relationship provides a unique space for skill development, knowledge transfer, and the forging of genuine connections that transcend age differences. For Gen Z, who may feel a lack of guidance or connection in a rapidly changing world, these "spark people" offer not just an introduction to a hobby, but a pathway to community, wisdom, and a sense of purpose. The act of sharing an experience in nature, away from screens, creates a bond that is both profound and enduring.
The ripple effect of this mentorship is already evident. Shawn Wallace, who was Buckert’s first mentee, has now become a mentor himself, actively striving to introduce others to the joys of birding. "I’ve convinced at least, or maybe helped convince, three people to buy a bird feeder for their backyard, or at least 10 people to download the Merlin app," he proudly stated. This self-perpetuating cycle of mentorship and community building underscores the powerful social dynamics at play, transforming individual interest into a collective movement. The blend of accessible technology, the restorative power of nature, and the profound human desire for connection and guidance has coalesced to make birding an unlikely, yet incredibly potent, symbol of Gen Z’s search for meaning and belonging in a complex world.
