Bird-watching, once seen as a calm, longtime pastime, is getting a major surge among Gen Z—and a U.K. survey indicates the youngest birders may be among the most enthusiastic.

The shift is striking: nearly 750,000 people ages 16 to 29 in Britain say they bird-watch regularly, according to research published by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, showing a huge increase since 2018. The trend also appears broader beyond Gen Z, with overall bird-watching rising in Britain and growing even more notably in the United States.

Much of the renewed interest traces back to the COVID-19 pandemic. When many young people were stuck at home, bird-watching became an accessible way to engage with nature from a backyard or even a window. As wildlife advocate and birding expert Adrianne “Drin” Chissus explains, those middle- and high-school years are formative, and the timing helped turn a once-niche habit into a growing interest.

Social media helped speed things up. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram made it easy for people to share sightings and excitement with friends, turning birding into something that spreads socially like a trend. When friends are posting about what they saw outside, it creates a “fear of missing out,” motivating others to try it too.

The hobby can be simple to start: you need a phone, some birdseed, and a view. And while today’s birding can include intense “twitching” trips to spot rare birds—or sightings going viral and drawing crowds—most participants keep it grounded in everyday discovery. The excitement, the article says, comes from that moment of looking out and wondering, “What is that?” and then wanting to know more.

Finally, bird-watching is presented as a rare hobby that can connect people across generations. It’s something families can share—whether that means bringing grandparents into the experience or turning backyard moments into bonding time—making it not only a way to connect with nature, but also with each other.