I probably don't have to tell you that birdwatching is the fastest growing outdoor sport in the U.S. as well as some other countries.According to a 2022 survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 96.3 million people in the United States, or 37% of Americans aged 16 and older, participated in birdwatching activities in 2022. This includes activities such as feeding, photographing, or closely observing birds, visiting public parks to view birds, and maintaining natural areas and plantings around the home to benefit birds. This number is more than double the number of birdwatchers reported in the USFWS's 2016 survey.

These numbers perhaps reflect a Covid-inspired birding boom beginning in 2020. Cornell Lab of Ornithology participatory-science programs, like the Merlin Bird ID app and eBird, also reflect the heightened interest in avian affairs. For example, as of March 2023 there were more than 1.5 million active Merlin users in the US, a fivefold increase from the 300,000 Merlin users in March 2020. Likewise, eBird monthly checklist submissions have doubled, from 600,000 checklists in March 2020 to 1.3 million by May 2023.

Birding is big business! More than six out of every 10 dollars spent in 2022 on wildlife-related recreation (which also includes hunting and fishing) came from wildlife watching, with birds cited as the greatest focus for wildlife watchers. Altogether, wildlife watchers spent more than $250 billion last year to engage in their hobby—including more than $24 billion on equipment such as binoculars, cameras, and bird food—for an average of $2,188 per person.

Sometimes that spending can add up just by virtue of a single rare bird. A 2023 study published in the journal People and Nature documented that when a Steller’s Sea-Eagle showed up on the New England coast in the winter of 2021–22, eager birders pumped more than $750,000 into the economies of Maine and Massachusetts.

Most people identify as recreationalists, casually observing their surroundings when they’re out and about anyway, but a small yet growing subset of the population make it a point to seek out unique animal encounters on vacation or otherwise. Gen Xers and boomers are still the largest group of backyard bird watchers, but birding is definitely growing in popularity with everyone from 16-64 with those under the age of 35 especially interested in traveling to see feathered friends.

Fancy cameras and binoculars aside, birding is an inexpensive hobby that’s easy to pick up and encourages getting outside and decreasing screen time. We’re all looking for ways to disconnect from the slew of devices and focusing on nature can be either calming or competitive depending on your attitude.

Technology has made it easier to document and identify your sightings and created a new kind of “bucket list” to find some of the more challenging “life birds.” In fact, a number of birders even treat it like a sport to track down the rarest finds.

If nothing else, birding has mental health benefits. What better way to improve your mind and attitude?