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“Look, there’s a little fairy wren hopping around with one of his partners… they’re adorable,” Mitch Kenny exclaims with enthusiasm.
Earlier this year, Mitch Kenny invested in his first pair of binoculars, inspired by birdwatching sessions with his brother. This new hobby, which he describes as “borrowed” from his environmentally-conscious sibling, led him to the picturesque Blue Mountains. There, they explored the natural world, searching for lizards, snakes, and eventually, birds.
“The first bird that really captivated me and had me eagerly searching was the fairy wren,” Kenny recounts. “That was my first time experiencing the thrill of spotting a rare find.”
Stephanie Chambers, a co-founder of a birdwatching group, vividly recalls that moment. “We felt like we were on the brink of a birdwatching craze,” she reflects.
Co-founder Stephanie Chambers remembers the moment clearly. “It felt to us like we were on the cusp of a birdwatching boom.”
Sydney Bird Club’s Stephanie Chambers says they have seen a boom in participants since the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: SBS News / Rania Yallop
Initially set up as a “club for everyone” to break down barriers in birdwatching, the group has since welcomed an influx of younger members.
“It’s a never-ending hobby. You can’t finish it. You can’t complete it … There will always be more birds.”
Environmentalist and podcaster César Puechmarin says many people started noticing birds when they were confined in their homes during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Source: SBS News / Rania Yallop
Chambers says birdwatching is also a “form of resistance against technology and social media” that allows participants to tap into a world untouched by screens.
“You’re not only just watching birds, you’re watching seasonal changes, you’re observing migrations. And so I think it tunes you into something that you would be without if you didn’t. So I think it strikes at the core of who we are as humans,” they say.
‘Resistance against technology’ grows online
Australian creator Birding with Cob, who has gained over 190,000 followers on Instagram posting Pokémon-style bird videos, wants people to “see every bird in the world”.
“I think that sometimes young men can be particularly loud in those environments,” says Puechmarin, who has seen young birders of all genders accessing information and finding “like-minded people” online.
Finding community
“I’m pretty keen to go out with someone who knows what they’re looking for. And some people are pretty keen to meet a footy player. So everyone wins.”
“I think when the community find each other, they do start to share of that type of advice. Like: ‘Hey, dude, you shouldn’t really be going up to that nest, you know, because that, that eagle will abandon the chicks if, if you come too close’,” he says.
