The UK’s Birdwatching Boom Is Being Led By Gen Z

Ahead of International Dawn Chorus Day, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) announced they’ve seen a 10-fold increase in birdwatching among Gen Z (born 1997-2012).

Numbers are “still on the rise,” they added in a press release. These figures were based on data collected by Fifty5Blue.

That makes it Gen Z’s second fastest-growing hobby, per the data, after jewellery-making.

This is among a 47% general increase in birdwatching, with a 216% increase among Millennials and a 66% increase among Gen X. Gen Z, however, is leading the way.

24-year-old Jess Painter from the RSPB’s Youth Council said social media tips have helped to make the hobby less exclusive.

“When I’m watching birds, I’m not thinking about anything else – it’s a moment of peace and a way to reconnect with nature, and with myself. By taking a moment to be curious, to watch, listen and learn, you open yourself up to endless small moments of wonder,” she said.

NHS doctor and president of the RSPB, Dr Amir Khan, said Jess and others like her are onto something.

“Hearing birdsong, especially during the dawn chorus when they’re at their loudest and most beautiful, can produce more serotonin and make us feel good,” he shared.

“For millennia, humans have evolved alongside nature, so it’s inherent that we want to connect with it. There’s even a scientific term for this theory, the biophilia hypothesis, which means we actively seek out nature.”

One study found that actively listening out for birdsong can make an already-beneficial walk even healthier.

There’s even some evidence to suggest that birdwatching may reduce your risk of dementia.

RSPB wildlife expert Molly Brown said birdwatching is “something that everyone can do, no matter how much or little they know about birds”.

Look out your window or head to a local park or woods, stay still and quiet, and enjoy the wildlife.

You can also hear some species instead of seeing them, woodlands.co.uk explained. Richard Scholfield, their estate manager, said: “People often think they’re only seeing one or two bird species on a woodland walk. But if you stop and listen, you’ll realise there are often half a dozen or more species singing around you at the same time.”

Chiff-chaffs, blackbirds, woodpeckers, song thrushes, wrens, and tawny owls all have distinctive calls.