When Notifications Are Turned Off, I Heard the Birds—The "Old Yet New Hobby" Gen Z Is Obsessed With

In the few minutes while waiting for a train, the time until the signal changes, or the brief moment before a drink is served, we unconsciously reach for our smartphones.

We check messages, watch short videos, and follow news headlines. Before finishing one post, the next notification arrives, and sometimes, right after closing the screen, we can't even remember what we were looking at.

As a way to distance themselves from this information-overloaded lifestyle, young people are showing interest in a particular hobby.

Birdwatching.

In Japanese, it's called "yachō kansatsu" (wild bird observation), and in English-speaking countries, enthusiasts often refer to it as "birding." It was once seen as a hobby enjoyed by older enthusiasts with fancy binoculars and field guides, but that image is beginning to change.

More young people are heading to parks early in the morning to watch birds, and photos and videos of observed birds are being posted on social media. Some use identification apps to determine bird species from their calls.

The highly analog act of watching birds has become a new form of relaxation for the digital generation.

About 750,000 Young People Observing Birds

According to a survey published in connection with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the UK, about 750,000 people aged 16-29 regularly enjoy birdwatching in the UK.

Compared to 2018, the growth rate is 1088%, a simple tenfold increase. Among the hobbies surveyed, birdwatching has become one of the particularly growing fields among the younger generation.

Of course, this number alone doesn't mean that Gen Z around the world has suddenly started watching birds. The UK survey results cannot be directly applied to other countries like Japan or Germany.

Nevertheless, it serves as evidence that birdwatching is becoming less of a hobby for only a few passionate enthusiasts.

The background is believed to be a return to nature and digital fatigue.

Young people don't dislike digital devices. Rather, they are a generation that has mastered using smartphones and social media as part of their lives. Therefore, they seek time to consciously weaken their connection rather than completely disconnecting from online.

Birdwatching suits that need.

While searching for birds, it's not enough to just gaze at the scenery. You check where the branches have swayed and listen carefully to the small sounds coming from the grass. To distinguish the bird's silhouette, flight pattern, and feather color, your attention naturally focuses on a single object in front of you.

It's not about "resisting the urge to look at your smartphone." As a result of focusing on following birds, the need to look at the screen disappears.

A Walk with a Purpose

Even if you know that walking in nature is good for your mind and body, many people find it boring to just walk.

Birdwatching gives a small purpose to a walk.

"What bird is making that call?"

"What just flew between the branches?"

"Will the bird I saw last week be in the same place today?"

Such questions turn the usual park or school route into a place of exploration. You don't have to go to a distant nature reserve; you can observe in familiar places like street trees, riverbanks, school grounds, or apartment gardens.

You don't need to remember bird names from the start.

It's enough to just look at features like a dark bird, a bird with a red chest, or a bird that moves its tail up and down. Even if you can't identify the species, noticing "I saw about three different birds today" turns nature, which was just a background, into a concrete presence.

As you continue, you begin to understand that the birds change with the seasons, even in the same place. In spring, there are more breeding calls; in summer, fledglings appear; in autumn, migratory birds move, and in winter, it's easier to spot small birds on leafless branches.

Birdwatching is not just about watching birds.

It's also an entry point to pay attention to the entire environment surrounding birds, such as temperature, sunrise times, changes in trees, fluctuations in insects, and the state of water bodies.

"Listening" Before "Seeing"

Beginners try to find birds with their eyes. However, in reality, their calls often reach you before their appearance.

When you hear a sound from somewhere, instead of moving around immediately, stop and stand still. Check the pitch and interval of the sound and guess the direction. Then, search places like the tips of branches, power lines, or rooftops in order.

This task requires the "ability to wait," which has become less common in daily life.

You can't speed up the playback of a video or skip uninteresting parts. Birds don't appear according to human convenience.

Sometimes, you might not find anything even after waiting for a few minutes. A bird might call just once and then fly away. You might go out expecting to see rare birds but only see familiar ones.

Still, it's not necessarily a failure.

Not finding the bird you were looking for might make you notice the sound of the wind or the movement of leaves. The time spent staying in one place becomes an experience itself, without rushing for results.

It's the opposite of the habit of constantly switching information.

Research Shows Potential Mental Health Benefits

The feeling that watching birds calms the mind is not just an impression of enthusiasts.

A research team from North Carolina State University investigated the impact of birdwatching and walking in nature on the psychological state of 112 people associated with the university campus.

Participants were divided into groups that engaged in birdwatching, walked in nature, or continued their usual lives as a control group. Those participating in nature activities engaged in activities lasting over 30 minutes once a week for five weeks.

As a result, a change towards reduced psychological distress was confirmed in the groups that engaged in activities in nature. The group that observed birds showed particularly promising results in improving subjective well-being and reducing psychological distress.

However, simply watching birds does not solve all stress or mental health issues. The survey is based on participants' responses, and the subjects and duration are limited. It is not a substitute for medical or professional support.

Nonetheless, the significance of showing the potential for psychological improvement through natural activities that can be started without visiting specialized facilities is great.

Birds can be found on university campuses and in city parks. Since it doesn't require special trips or high participation fees, it's easy to incorporate into daily life.

You Can Start Without Expensive Equipment

When you hear the word birdwatching, you might imagine large cameras or high-performance binoculars.

However, expensive equipment is not necessary at the entry level.

At first, the naked eye is enough. You can start by walking in a nearby park for 30 minutes and being aware of the birds you see and the sounds you hear. When you want to see more details, you can prepare a small pair of binoculars or a field guide.

You don't need to completely eliminate smartphones either.

Apps that suggest species based on bird calls or photos are a valuable guide for beginners. They lower the initial barrier of losing interest because you don't know the bird's name.

The important thing is that the role of the smartphone changes.

It's not a device for endlessly viewing social media or short videos but a tool for understanding the nature in front of you. The screen doesn't take your attention away from reality but helps you return to it.

Digital and nature don't necessarily have to be in conflict. Depending on how you use it, an app can be a trigger to go outdoors.

Observation Records Can Lead to Research

Services for recording the location, date, and type of birds observed are also becoming widespread.

On eBird, a global bird observation database, users can register their observation results as checklists. The collected data is used by researchers, educators, and those involved in nature conservation to understand bird distribution and population changes.

In Germany and Luxembourg, ornitho.de/ornitho.lu collects bird observation records. The purpose is to use the submitted data for scientific analysis and nature conservation, as well as to connect people interested in birds.

In other words, a bird found during an individual's walk becomes part of citizen science through continuous recording.

Knowing that your observations become part of a larger data set gives participants a sense of achievement.

On social media, the value of actions is often measured by the number of "likes." In contrast, bird observation records have value that accumulates even without attracting attention.

It's okay if you can't take flashy photos. Even if you can't discover rare birds, information about when, where, and how many common birds were present is meaningful.

This system aligns well with the sense of self-efficacy felt by young participants.

Voices on SNS: "I Want to Try It" and "It's Surprisingly Like a Game"

News and videos introducing the popularity of birdwatching are also trending on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Reddit.

Positive reactions that stand out on social media include "It's great that you can start for free," "It gives you a reason to go outside," and "With bird identification apps, even beginners can enjoy it."

In overseas birdwatching communities, there are opinions that apps have made bird identification easier and created a game-like enjoyment.

The elements of increasing the number of species found, encountering different birds depending on the season, and narrowing down candidates from calls are indeed similar to collection games or puzzles.

However, unlike games on the screen, encounters with birds have an element of chance. Even if you go to the same place as the day before, the same result is not guaranteed.

This unpredictability seems to become a small daily pleasure.

Additionally, there are posts expressing understanding that when world affairs and future uncertainties are strong, and you feel you can't control much, paying attention to the beauty of nearby nature makes sense.

Even if you can't directly solve big problems, you can look for birds and listen to their calls where you are. This small act is seen as helping to regain a connection with reality.

A Calm Perspective: "It's Just Rediscovering an Old Hobby"

On the other hand, not all reactions welcome it as a new trend.

There are criticisms such as "Birdwatching has been done for a long time," and "Isn't it just introducing traditional activities like walking or knitting with new names as trends?"

When "silent walking," where young people walk without music or conversation, gained attention, there were also skeptical voices saying, "It's just renaming an ordinary walk as a new wellness habit."

A similar structure exists with birdwatching.

The idea is that young people haven't invented an old hobby but are merely rediscovering an existing enjoyment in a way that fits their lives.

However, being a rediscovery does not diminish its value.

Many "analog hobbies" that young generations are interested in, such as reading, knitting, gardening, film cameras, and records, are not newly created.

The background to their renewed support is fatigue from a life that constantly seeks speed and efficiency.

While it may seem superficial to introduce old hobbies with new words on social media, if it leads to more people actually going outside, its role as an entry point cannot be ignored.

In fact, while social media causes digital fatigue, it also becomes a place to discover new hobbies and friends.

Ironically, we are in an era where we find ways to disconnect from screens within the screens themselves.

Being Alone Yet Connected to Others

Birdwatching can be enjoyed alone or in groups.

On days when you're tired, you can quietly walk in the park alone. There's no need to talk to anyone, and no obligation to report your findings. Even if you don't find any birds, there's no one to evaluate you.

On the other hand, if you join observation events or local groups, conversations naturally arise with people who share the same interest.

"What bird is that?"

"It's on top of that tree."

"It's often seen around this time of year."

Since birds are the central topic, it's easy to find a conversation starter even with strangers. It's a form that's easy to participate in, even for those who are not fond of gatherings aimed solely at socializing.

Many young people feel lonely in reality, even though they are always connected to someone online.

In birdwatching gatherings, you can share the same space and look in the same direction, exchanging words only when necessary. It allows for both personal time and community participation.

This sense of distance might be one reason why it is accepted by modern young people.

Time That Exists Without Competition

Modern hobbies are often tied to achievements.

When exercising, you record distance or calories burned; when traveling, you post photos. Cooking, reading, studying, and other activities are easily compared with others through records and sharing.

In birdwatching, there is a way to enjoy competing over