Birdwatching is cool now - young people tell us why

Birdwatching has had a certain reputation for some time.

Say the word and you may picture an older gentleman sporting a tweed jacket while clutching a pair of binoculars and a thermos of soup. Not that there is anything wrong with that, of course.

And yet, flock to the park nowadays and you will find a different species emerging - students in their 20s with a competitive flair.

Research published by the RSPB last week showed nearly 750,000 people aged 16-29 now regularly enjoy birdwatching - representing a tenfold increase since 2018.

So why is the trend taking flight among young people?

Jess Painter, from the RSPB's youth council, said she had noticed "more and more young people birdwatching".

"I love how this is shifting it into a hobby that's more accessible, less jargonistic and cool," the 24-year-old said.

"On social media in particular, people are redefining what it is to be into birdwatching - sharing knowledge and passion."

Social media platform TikTok shows more than 530,000 videos with a birdwatching hashtag. Content shows anything from how to identify bird songs to jokes about turning 30 and your "birdwatching era" sneaking up on you.

Once a month, an RSPB group goes out to different Bristol postcodes to do a "bio-blitz", with walkers documenting as many birds and other species as they can within three hours.

The data they collect is used by Bristol City Council and the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre to help monitor local biodiversity.

It is also collected into a world-wide leader board as part of the City Nature Challenge, which pits cities against each other to see who can spot the most wildlife.

Last weekend, Bristol made it to eighth place out of 28 cities taking part.

Becca, a teacher in her 20s, said she took up birdwatching because she "really likes getting outdoors".

"It is surprising how much variety there is," she said.

"The birds, the waterlife - it's so impressive that it's here on our doorstep."

Becca said she had been excited to see a grey wagtail, a bird which is amber listed and being monitored closely due to population decline.

Rob Carmier, group leader at RSPB Bristol, said many students joined the outings.

"We get some people who have never been out in their local nature spaces and want to explore," he said.

"Personally, I like the fact that every time we come out, I discover something new or something I never knew existed before, hiding under a rock or in a tree.

"Bristol impresses me with the diversity of species you can find here, considering it's so urban," he added.

The boom perhaps reflects a broader shift in how young people choose to spend their free time - embracing sobriety and seeking out hobbies.

According to the latest research by the NHS, young adults aged 16–24 were the most likely to be non-drinkers (25%).

Hari Ramakrishnan, who joins the group on its walks, said his interest in ecology had piqued over the past year.

"I'm trying to befriend the crows living near me and that's going...fine.

"They learned to recognise me," he laughed.

"I wanted to join the RSPB off the back of that. I want to know what's out there.

"Going out and hearing the birds was actually quite magical," Ramakrishnan added.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.