Jul 31, 2026
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Add us on GoogleWhile I can still envision my grandpa peering out the window at his bird feeder throughout the seasons, it’s not the only image that birdwatching conjures anymore. More often than not, on a walk through the park you’ll see a Gen Zer gazing up at the trees through a pair of binoculars.
Birding has been a popular hobby for a long time, but now more than ever, younger people are getting in on the joy of watching these creatures. BBC reported that research by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) found that more than 700,000 people aged 16 to 29 regularly enjoy birdwatching in Britain — this is a more than tenfold rise since 2018.
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Additionally, a 2022 survey from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that 37% of the adult population was birding, with Millennials and Gen Z contributing largely to the population of birders.
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But what is it, exactly, that’s getting young people out into the parks, binoculars to the sky?
A possible recession indicator
While, it is hard to say definitively why the resurgence in birding, some signs point to the hobby’s affordability amid economic uncertainty and high costs of living.
NielsenIQ’s Global Gen Z Spending Report found that Gen Z’s spending is expected to see $2.7 trillion in growth over the next few years. The report also stated that Gen Z will become the highest consumer spending class in many regions of the world by 2030.
Despite this, Gen Z is feeling the effects of inflation, and is starting to adjust their habits accordingly. The Harris Poll’s recent Gen Z Weekend Report states that 68% of Gen Z say going out isn’t worth the effect on their wallet, and 49% cite saving money as their main reason for staying home.
Enter: birding.
Birding is an affordable hobby. At its most simple, you go outside and look. And even beyond that, the things that amplify your birding experience are often free or fairly affordable.
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For instance, Cornell’s Merlin Bird ID app — created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology— is free to download and use, and has a 4.9 star rating on the Apple app store. Birders can use this app to identify birds via sound or photo, and from there you can maintain a list of all the birds you have seen.
“We really want people to be able to get out and enjoy the birds around them and make that experience as easy as possible — that’s why it’s important for us to keep Merlin Bird ID free,” Merlin told Moneywise. “Because the app is free, everyone around the world can learn a little bit about the birds near them, and that’s really cool.”
One birder on TikTok — @treeladymorg — shared that their “favorite thing about birding is how accessible it actually is.” They said that you can get birding books from the library, thrift a set of binoculars or even just use your eyes on their own to look.
“It really helps you appreciate the little things,” they said.
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Returning to analog ways, or ‘touching grass’
In a similar vein, the resurgence of birding could be associated with Gen Z’s affinity for returning to a more analog age. I mean, what’s more analog than going outside?
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The Harris Poll’s TikTok Report found that many Gen Zers are experiencing digital fatigue. Among Gen Zers interested in cutting back on their scroll time, 36% want to spend time that returned time outdoors. Between spending time outside and embracing media that requires more attention than a phone scroll, Gen Z is ready for a change.
A 2023 report by the American Library Association found that Gen Zers and millennials make up the largest group of library users in the U.S.. Additionally, 52% of Gen Z and millennial physical library patrons said they borrowed from library digital collections, but print books are Gen Zers’ preferred book format.
Of all the hobbies you could have, birding definitely ranks high on the list in terms of its ability to keep you grounded in the moment, and get you outside and away from your phone and other distractions. Even if you don’t want to use an app for identification, libraries and
bookstores are teeming with bird guides that can light the way.
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Em Norton is a Content Specialist at moneywise.com. They have been with the company since 2022.
