Continued pandemic-spurred restrictions on indoor activities coupled with longer, warmer days in the northern hemisphere beckon us outside. And if you can't safely gather with other humans, why not spend that time observing the wildlife around you?
In fact, more than a year of limited contact with friends and family has brought us closer to the natural world and birdwatching is one pastime rising in popularity these days.
The National Audubon Society, a non-profit focused on protecting birds through advocacy and education, reports nearly twice as many people downloaded the Audubon Bird Guide App in March 2020 compared to the previous March. These users also posted more than double the number of bird sightings on the app from June to December of 2020 compared to those same months in 2019.
If you’re new to the birdwatching game and aren’t sure where to start, don’t fret. We spoke to birders around the world for some tips. City dwellers without backyards can get in on the fun too.
“You can start birding anywhere there are birds!” says Audubon Mid-Atlantic program associate Robin Irizarry. “Birds are some of the most accessible wildlife due to their ability to fly and turn up virtually anywhere.”
