Birding is booming

By Liz Wynn and Sue Olsson, EcoNetwork Port Stephens

“Red, Yellow, Green, Blue. Colour so bright they’ll shine for you. Look at them fly so high in the sky as they’re singing their song.”

That’s the beautiful upbeat Eastern Rosellas song by young Aussie Miles Phillips (see YouTube link below) who was inspired to write this earwig tune that’s now gone globally viral whilst watching birds at his grandparent’s home in Victoria.

Birdwatching, much like other nature-inspired pursuits, is experiencing a remarkable resurgence as people across the globe seek out meaningful ways to reconnect with nature.

Driven by a collective longing to escape digital fatigue, many are trading screens for the soothing sights and sounds of the outdoors, finding fresh inspiration in the flutter of wings and the quiet beauty of the bush. This renewed interest for many newcomers is transforming birding from a simple pastime into a vibrant movement that invites everyone to rediscover wonder and embrace the tranquillity that nature so generously offers.

Louise Williams, President of the Hunter Bird Observers Club, and PhD candidate at the University of Newcastle told ABCs Sunday Extra “birds have a broad appeal..they are one of the easiest because they are easy to see, they are awake when you are, they are in every habitat known, and they let you know where they are with their calls.”

Listen to Louise’s interview here >>

It’s exciting to see birdwatching become a hot social media topic – one that’s helping drive a keen interest across not only Gen Z but across all generations.

In the UK, research commissioned by the UK’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds shows a tenfold increase in birding by Gen Z (ie teenage to late 20’s) since 2018, within a 47% rise in birdwatching by people of all ages over that time. Here, BirdLife Australia’s annual Aussie Bird Count survey recorded a record-breaking 5 million birds counted by nearly 64,000 people across Australia in 2025.

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
(Zanda funerea)

The drive to find downtime in nature – and now from people wanting to watch Eastern Rosellas thanks to Miles’ song – may be fuelling this hot growth, but also modern birdwatching is benefiting from technology and particularly AI through the use of a number of digital apps which have seen exponential growth over the last few years.

Artifical Intelligence is helping drive this growth

With plenty of free AI-enabled apps like Merlin Bird ID for bird identification (developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology), eBird (also produced by Cornell University) the world’s largest bird database used to record sightings, or Birdata (BirdLife Australia’s online bird monitoring platform), birdwatching as a hobby has become a growing trend. And these apps mean birdwatching is no longer considered something for experts.

Birding for Gen Z in particular, has been likened to real-life Pokémon GO where, just like Pokémon, participants seek out new birds in their local environment creating a new version of gamification. A number of Instagram influencers have helped grow birding including gourmetbiologist, birdingwithcob and in Australia people like retired Panthers NRL player Mitch Kenny.

Birdwatching is a win-win

There’s the added benefits that come with being outdoors through improved physical and mental health and greater social connection and every citizen scientist can help in conserving our environment which is vital given the frightening statistic from Birdlife Australia that 1 in 6 Australian birds faces the threat of extinction.

1 in 6 Australian birds faces the threat of extinction 🦜 💀

Port Stephens has an abundance of birds

In Port Stephens, bird enthusiasts are truly spoiled for choice, with an abundance of inviting birding spots scattered across the area. With a remarkable 327 species recorded throughout the region and more than 70 of these seen regularly, the local landscape offers a vibrant tapestry of avian life waiting to be discovered.

Whether wandering through lush bushland or strolling along tranquil coastal paths, every outing promises the thrill of spotting familiar feathered friends and uncovering unexpected delights. The sheer variety and accessibility of these locations make Port Stephens a paradise for anyone keen to immerse themselves in the wonders of birdwatching.

Join the annual Aussie Bird Count from 19 – 25 October >>

Resources

➡️ The Hunter Bird Observers Club has produced three birding guides for the Port Stephens region which are available to download from the HBOC website

➡️ Birdata by Bird Life Australia https://birdata.birdlife.org.au/

➡️ Merlin and eBird by Cornell University https://ebird.org/species/merlin?continue

Birding is booming