Birding is the New Meditation: Why Gen Z is Obsessed
There is much more to meditation than simply closing your eyes, breathing deeply, and seeking serenity. Sometimes the best way to quiet your mind is to give it something worth paying attention to, like a birdsong you can’t quite place, or a flickering of colors darting through the trees.
Bird watching, or “birding,” has been a popular hobby and naturalist pursuit ever since binoculars became more accessible following World War II. Around this time, there was a shift in conservation away from collecting birds to observing them. Today, it’s just as popular, or perhaps more so.
What Is Bird Watching?
On the surface, it seems fairly straightforward. However, ask any avid birder, and you’ll discover that it’s actually an umbrella term for several different practices that offer different mental health benefits. Some people find it to be a mindful diversion, a means of being in the now and taking in the little things in life. For others, it offers the excitement of a treasure hunt as they search for a new species to identify.
Why Birding is Multi-Generational
Many used to associate bird watching with retirees, but today it’s just as popular with younger generations. For those looking for an activity that unplugs them from the digital world, birding can be a solid escape; all you need is a pair of binoculars, making for a low-cost downtime experience. It can be practiced alone for ultimate serenity, or as a group for shared discoveries.
Modern birding has excelled thanks to ever-improving technology. Gen Z didn’t reject the analog routes of bird watching—it remixed them. You don’t need to leave your phone at home to find tranquility—you can ditch the doom-scrolling, pause other apps, and log in to your chosen bird-watching app. Today’s camera capabilities on smartphones are more than sufficient to capture nature in its true form. You don't need to study for months or invest in expensive gear. Hear a bird? Hold up your phone, record it, and get an instant ID from your birding app.
Birding’s Benefits for Mental Health
Low-Pressure Socializing
Birding is ideal for individuals with social anxiety, as you’re in company yet focused on the birds rather than the need to engage in forced conversation.
Routine Escape
You don’t need to venture into the woods or a public park to go bird watching. You can simply take some time for yourself in the comfort of your own backyard and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds you. While you’ll see most activity in the early morning, you can still enjoy a lunch break in the garden or dedicate an hour in the morning before work, allowing for some blissful “me time”.
Mood Regulation
There’s some science behind the serenity. Studies have shown it’s optimal to have sun exposure for five to 30 minutes a day. Not to mention, spending time outdoors can provide a variety of mental, physical, and cognitive health benefits. Even in winter, people use outdoor activities like birding to conquer the winter blues.
Shared Joy
Tranquility can be felt vicariously. If you’re birding in a group, you not only feel safer, but you can also witness someone else’s excitement as they revel in nature.
Belonging, Community & Accountability
The pandemic led many people to feel isolated and disconnected. From this, a new wave of community desire was ignited. Birding in a group can help you feel part of a community and help you out of slumps as you unite around shared wonder, not social status.
When Is the Best Time for Birding?
Spring offers peak diversity as hundreds of species return north. Males flaunt their most vibrant colors to attract mates, there’s constant singing and movement as birds establish territories, and the weather is in a nice midway point—not too cold and not too hot. However, birding can be enjoyed year-round. Fall boasts a second wave of diversity as birds head south. Summer lets you witness the adorable fledgling period, when birds grow their feathers and learn to fly. Winter offers unique viewing opportunities due to the leafless trees.
The most important part to remember in any season is that if you’re not awake for dawn, you’re missing the best part. Referred to as the “dawn chorus”, this 2-3 hour period is when birds are most active, most vocal, and most visible. This is where you need to be fully prepared.
The phone that seemed fine the evening before is now running low on battery as you power your birding app, take your pictures, and your GPS tracks your location. By 8am, you could be at 40% battery life. The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Portable Power Station is compact and lightweight, making it perfect for stashing in your car. With 600W output, you can easily charge your laptop, tablet, phone, and more.
Power Banks
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