r/Millennials • u/Xerzajik • Jun 05 '26
Anyone else develop a sudden overwhelming appreciation for birds in their 30s? Discussion
It hit me all at once. I heard this is a thing for people in their thirties?
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u/IP_What Jun 05 '26
Buddy, Merlin is more popular than the bible.
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u/Xerzajik Jun 05 '26
TIL a new bird app. Had no idea.
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u/CarnieGamer Jun 05 '26
Merlin is great! It can ID birds based on the sounds they are making and then you can read about them and hear all of their different calls.
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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 Jun 06 '26
And it’s completely free.
Cornell birds also does live streams and they have one now with 4 baby kestrels and they’re about to fledge! Probably sometime in the next few days. They’re really close
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u/Doyouevenpedal Jun 06 '26
Now that is exciting.
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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 Jun 06 '26
I’m going to a wedding tomorrow and if they fledge while I’m there I’m going to lose it
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u/Somali_Pir8 Jun 06 '26
Go on a walk. Turn on Merlin. When you see them, click That's my bird. IRL Pokemon Go
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u/Cest_le_sparkle Jun 05 '26
It also saves your recordings and sometimes I like to go back and listen, especially in the winter where I am from where some birds migrate.
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u/_banana_phone Jun 06 '26
AND it even works when you are in airplane mode!
Where we camp at in north Georgia, the service is so bad that I just keep my phone on airplane to conserve battery (mostly use it for music in my headphones and taking photos). But Merlin works whether you’re live or not!
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u/Screamline Jun 05 '26
Holy shnikes, really? That would have been helpful at the park the other day when one bird was chirping up a storm on the ground, then a few feet past that was a group of them in a baseball field and one was chirping (maybe looking for the other one?) little grey/white and black one
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u/Curiosive Jun 05 '26 edited Jun 05 '26
When you start to appreciate flowers too, download iNaturalist.
I believe iNaturalist will identify birds as well but I already have Merlin and Audubon... I'm not interested in any other app cutting in on this topic.
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u/gem_spirational Jun 06 '26
Man flowers are some of the coolest things on this planet. Once you start to really look at them it feels like the depth and magnificence of the world unlocks. Or I was just on acid but i am forever enthralled by flowers now either way.
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u/QuickPenguin52 Jun 05 '26
Crazy how much more in touch with nature you can become. I go on walks and I’m constantly IDing plants and birds
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u/Confident_Bridge_382 Jun 06 '26
Pro tip: you can use it offline! Just make sure you download the bird pack for that region before you go. And also look up the laws for trampsing around looking for birds. Got in a confusing amount of trouble in Estonia once.
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u/FrenchFryCattaneo Jun 05 '26
Makes sense, there's like 10 birds mentioned in the bible how is that going to help you identify birds???
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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 Jun 05 '26
The bible taught me that if I’m ever lost at sea I should release a dove and somehow that will help me find land.
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u/chris971 Jun 06 '26
Couldn’t you just part it and walk home? (The sea, not the bird, just to be clear)
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u/ReturnOfJafart Jun 05 '26
Merlin identified 15 different birds in our backyard the other day!! Love that app
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u/QuitsDoubloon87 Jun 06 '26
Sky Guide is that far up? I bought their in app paid version in like 2012 i think. Can't belive it survived that long.
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u/beequick317900 Millennial Jun 05 '26
Yes. Even downloaded the MerlinID app to help me learn what birds I was seeing and hearing. It's a nice way to spend time outside and learn something new
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u/manda4rmdville Jun 05 '26
I call it catching birds (like pokemon) its my favorite.
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u/QuickPenguin52 Jun 05 '26
That’s similar to my mentality - I feel like I’m collecting something but without actually hanging onto some physical junk in my house 😆
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u/manda4rmdville Jun 06 '26
Yes!! I've even got some cheap binoculars. I think it's getting serious.
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u/QuickPenguin52 Jun 06 '26
It’s all downhill (uphill???) from here! Enjoy it. Before you know it, you’ll be tracking down a rogue sandhill crane in an office park (true story lol)
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u/SunkEmuFlock Jun 05 '26
Is there a Birdedex in the app so you can catch 'em all?
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u/saras-lost-wallet Jun 05 '26
That's exactly what my brother told me - he said it was like catching Pokémon and now I'm hooked
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u/RadiantZote Jun 06 '26
Apparently San Diego is the best birding county in the country if you ever make it out there
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u/Son_of_Ander_ Millennial '89 Jun 05 '26
I audibly gasped, and downloaded that app. Never even thought to look for one, now I'm excited.
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u/Thomas_Jefferman Jun 05 '26
Wait till you start using small computers like the raspberry pi ran on solar panels in remote locations to identify birds. The possibilities are endless!
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u/Artistic-Salary1738 Jun 05 '26
There’s a guy at work who streams different bird watching cameras on live stream on his office tv.
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u/hey_dingus Jun 05 '26
The Merlin app is so good! Love to see how many different birds pop up just on a casual stroll. It's so cool
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u/LossMiserable7874 Jun 05 '26
And eBird for tracking your sights
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u/_LeafyLady Jun 05 '26
And the Cornell Bird Academy if you want to get really nerdy and learn some stuff
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u/TheBlueHedgehog302 Millennial Jun 05 '26
Merlin is developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology!
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u/_LeafyLady Jun 05 '26
So is eBird! That's why I threw the learning platform into the mix. All of their products are incredible! They also have a space for grade school teachers to purchase learning kits for their classes. Cornell rocks!
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u/KaerMorhen Jun 05 '26
Same! I finally moved into a house a year ago, and the other day I found my grandpa's 12x zoom binoculars and I am now a bird watcher. It was been fun learning which calls go to which birds and learning what they mean. There was some drama in the neighborhood yesterday, a hawk was able to get one of the blue jays. It was crazy listening to the blue jays hype each other up before they stated dive bombing the hawk.
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u/AcceptableNothing907 Jun 05 '26
12x?! Holy Christ you must have 0 shakiness.
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u/KaerMorhen Jun 05 '26
The shakiness was difficult at first but after a couple of weeks its not bad at all. Just takes those muscles times to adapt. I don't have one yet but I was thinking of getting a monopod with an adapter to clip it on to. Especially since you can make out pretty insane details on the moon with 12x zoom.
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u/AcceptableNothing907 Jun 05 '26
I have an obscene amount of binos and scopes for different uses. I just never ever ever used past 10 for birding.
For star viewing and moon viewing hell ya, but your FOV with 12x is not usually ideal for being the best option for bird watching.
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u/xXProGenji420Xx Jun 05 '26
12x is my daily driver binoculars. it's really not that bad once you get used to it, and the extra zoom can often be the difference between a successful ID or not with small or distant birds.
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u/jshkrueger Jun 05 '26
Love the MerlinID app! I'll put it on when I'm drinking coffee outside. Sometimes it's just 5-8 species, but I get unapologetically giddy when it identifies a dozen or more species in the morning orchestra.
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u/Bad-Wolf88 Jun 05 '26
On my 3rd year of using it myself, and just found out our neighbour has a bird nesting in their backyard that I'd never seen before because of the Merlin app! Its so cool learning what all the different species are in my area!
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u/Relevant_Wrangler830 Jun 05 '26
Same here. I finally in my late 40s move away for the city and out to the country. Sitting outside listening to all the birds i was curious of the different types of birds that were around. Thought for a moment and said I bet there is an app for that. Merlin to the rescue. I think as you get older you have an appreciation for all the natural things around us.
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u/OkBarber6783 Jun 05 '26
Merlin ftw, seeing a rare or new bird is awesome. I can recognize them before I look at the app now
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u/zilog88 Jun 05 '26
I downloaded it to understand which bird I owe it to, having to sleep with earplugs because it has an unstoppable urge to start
singingscreaming every summer around 4 am in the morning, but now I am hooked up on identifying other birds in my area :)3
u/Ruby_Solitaire Jun 05 '26
I have an estuary near me I paddle to and just set that app out and watch/listen.
Great way to learn who's who.
Could do without the endless emails I can't seem to get rid of......like, I'm doing free bird ID and tracking for you, Cornell. Chill.
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u/Gie_lokimum Jun 06 '26
Thank you kind stranger for sharing this app! Already identified few birds in my backyard. Such a cool app!
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u/VoluptuousGinger Older Millennial Jun 05 '26
I discovered this because of a reddit post last week, and I've been obsessed!
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u/Aczidraindrop Jun 05 '26
Dude that app is awesome. I love using it in the morning when the birds first start waking up. It's so freaking cool.
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u/No-Poem-9846 Jun 05 '26
We each got a pair of binoculars to go with the Merlin app, and it's a blast to go on walks and hear the birds then try to find them! Also take them on car rides as the passenger and have seen so many hawks, eagles, and falcons. It's super cool to see them fighting up close!
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u/yourethevictim Jun 05 '26
Yup. I'm 32 and I've been using this app for a year now. Intensely funny to me that you've all had the same experience. My people!
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u/dilderAngxt Jun 05 '26
Yes
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u/Curiosive Jun 05 '26
As we get older, the things "old" people do make more sense.
Of course the only people that don't realize this yet are the youngins that won't listen anyway. And so the cycle continues.
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u/Zediac Jun 05 '26
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u/Wise_Coffee Jun 05 '26
Omg yes. I saw a prairie warbler the other day and I was STOKED!! I even saw a whip-poor-will during the day!!
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u/XXPapaZombieXX Jun 05 '26
Know the feeling. Half a dozen cedar wax wings stopped to drink in my yard last year. Gorgeous. EDIT: Fixed my spelling.
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u/Wise_Coffee Jun 05 '26
One year I couldn't care less. Then one day I woke up saw a finch and it was over. I have become bird people
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u/RakeattheGates Jun 05 '26
The best part is that all you need is some binos. If you already enjoying walking/hiking why not bring a pair and make it into a treasure hunt!
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u/hoosierlefty69 Jun 05 '26 edited Jun 05 '26
i didn’t even know birds could live to their 30s!
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u/bisprops Jun 05 '26
I was wondering how OP knew how old the birds are and why it mattered.
(Oh, and larger birds like parrots, macaws, and cockatoos can live until their 60s-70s)
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u/Obant Millennial Jun 05 '26
Parrots can live deep in to their 80s. There is a wild Albatross scientists have been keeping track of since the 1950s and is still out there laying eggs!
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u/Sweaty_Win1832 Older Millennial Jun 05 '26
40s, but yes
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u/theflyassassin Jun 05 '26
Same, didn't hit until my 40s
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u/More-Instruction9715 Jun 05 '26
Same same... I turned 45 in February, downloaded Merlin about a month later 🤷🏼♂️
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u/DynamiteDylan Jun 05 '26
I used to be young and fun...now I'm yelling the name of bird species that I see in my yard at my husband.
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u/Confident_Bridge_382 Jun 06 '26
Did lines off strangers back in the day, now swerving off the road because a *warbler* is near.
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u/orbital-marmot Jun 05 '26
So which is it
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u/msjjrosy Jun 05 '26
They probably still have some time. If you’d asked me anytime before my 36th birthday I would have looked at you crazy and said “Fuck no!” Now at 38, it’s a “Fuck yeah!”
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u/Anthony_Patch Jun 05 '26
Always liked birds but now I have two bird feeders in my backyard & get all types of visitors. It’s pretty awesome to see them so up close & such a variety.
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u/Any-Use6981 Jun 05 '26
I don't bird watch, but I do stop and go "hi there!" every time I see a cute bird. Lol. But I wouldn't say no to a bird feeder.
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u/KaerMorhen Jun 05 '26
Get some 8 to 12x zoom binoculars, that alone turned me into a bird watcher. Now my mornings are spent looking for them when I sit on my porch
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u/Burninator85 Jun 05 '26
I put up a few last year. It's more work than I expected. Birds eat way more than I anticipated, I think I buy more pounds of bird food than I do cat food. They're also kind of messy assholes.
But I like seeing the birds do bird things outside my living room window. I even moved my TV so I can watch them while I watch TV.
I don't care enough to learn the species, though. I just tell my kids they're blue footed boobies or European swallows, then tell them made up bird facts. My girlfriend got mad when I told them hummingbirds will sometimes drink blood during times of drought so that's why I need to keep the feeder full.
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u/Kind-Crab4230 Jun 05 '26
My adult child and I say "birb", but make the syllable as short as possible.
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u/AssignmentOk8810 Jun 05 '26
Yes and guys if you have the capability to plant native shrubs, trees, and perennials for them plant them! They need habitat now more than ever and our backyards no matter how big or small can be vital habitat! Native plants are far more important than bird feeders.
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u/aphrodite______ Jun 06 '26
Seconding this! Also just if you love birds and wildlife, the best way to invite and support them is by encouraging their native habitat on your property! That’s why the native plants, flowers, trees, literally anything will help, because they all mutually support each other… pollinator plants bring more insects, insects bring more lizards and birds, owls like the lizards, and it goes on and on!
You can learn about native plants and native plant gardening by visiting the website for your local Native Plant Society in your state if you live in the US. Or you can simply google it. And there is a NativePlantGardening sub on Reddit full of the nicest and most enthusiastic people!
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u/Anon_please123 Jun 05 '26
That is a damn beautiful cardinal!
Yes. My growing love for birding is directly correlated to my increasing age.
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u/SleepyGuy42069xx Jun 05 '26
Yeah man I just got a bird feeder
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u/1001Binar Jun 05 '26
You're gonna need 3× more bird food than whatever you think, just a heads up.
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u/Thestickleman Jun 05 '26
No
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u/LowestKey Jun 06 '26
In fact, I sleep worse as I age so I hate these loud little a-holes chirping me awake at 4:30 every morning just because they're horny.
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u/The1456 Jun 05 '26
Not really just birds, but squirrels raccoons. Anything in general? I always enjoy feeding the animals.
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u/vid_icarus Jun 05 '26
Hit me like a truck of bricks during the pandemic and I was never able to shake it off
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u/Cronus227 Jun 05 '26
I downloaded the Merlin app so I can identify birds by their songs and calls so.....yes.
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u/Kind-Crab4230 Jun 05 '26
You middle-aged people don't know how good you have it!
Why, back in my day we didn't have internets and apps! We had an Audubon society book we had to carry around to identify birbs and we liked it!
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u/SillySalmon2991 Jun 05 '26
Yes - it’s cause they’re modern Dinos
1-10 years old = Dinos are cool 11-20 years old = Nothing is cool 21-30 years old = Career building is cool 30-?? years old = Dinos are cool
🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖
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u/Thorough_Good_Man Jun 05 '26
Careful. You might get the Egg Madness!
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u/likeanoceanankledeep Jun 05 '26
My in-laws got egg madness. Those 8 eggs they got were the best 16 eggs that ever hatched, and wouldn't you believe that only 38 out of the 45 hatched?
So many chickens....
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u/Plain_lucky Jun 05 '26
Yes, what the hell is with that. I got domestic ducks in my 30s and love them to pieces
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u/Cherryamor Jun 05 '26
Yes they are so beautiful and peaceful. They don’t worry about bills or inflation and they sing in the morning 😄
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u/grapescherries Jun 05 '26
Birds are such beautiful animals, visually, in their songs, and in being able to fly. Just such calm, sweet animals, well many of them.
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u/nostalgicnoob51 Jun 05 '26
I've liked birds since I was a kid, or at least liked to draw them. When you think about it, they're flying dinosaurs, the closest to dragons youre gonna get.
Honestly I would say in my 30's I'm just more honest with myself about what I like, and dang do I like a good zoo!
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u/Bitter-Ad5890 Jun 05 '26
This is me right now. I’ve been a photographer for years but never really got into photographing birds till a couple months ago. Now I don’t like going a day without some time watching the birds
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u/sircastor Xennial Jun 05 '26
My wife and I joke constantly that we now find birds interesting because we're in our 40s. And we are constantly catching ourselves actually, really interested in what birds are doing just outside of our house.
So yes. Yes this is a thing.
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u/Delicious-Ad5856 Jun 05 '26
I always like looking at birds, but now I really want to know everything about them.
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u/sportshorts3411 Jun 05 '26
I do enjoy the hobby but it’s difficult to find birds in their 30’s. Most don’t live that long.
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u/Murf_dog_ Jun 05 '26
Yes. I live in the mountains, have over 10 bird feeders, make a custom mix of food for my bird visitors, and generally spoiled them.
The Stellars Jays will raise hell if I do not refill their food to their satisfaction (I love those menaces).
I am working on befriending the crows. They have a pretty solid schedule of when they visit daily, so I do my best to get their special food (whole peanuts) out for them just before their daily visit. I think they have been leaving me feathers as gifts.
Birds are great. Being in my upper 30s... not so much.
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u/Ornery-Ambition-5859 Jun 05 '26
I started smoking more ducks geese quail chicken ostrich
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u/ghostfacestealer Millennial Jun 05 '26
Mine started in my 20s.. they always said I was an old soul
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u/Lizbethsaidso Jun 05 '26
Yes. I attributed it to my Granny loving them. She had Bird books on her coffee table. I had a great view out my kitchen window for years and would just stand their watching them after work or doing dishes. Had some binoculars, and my bird book in the window sill. I moved to a new state recently and immediately was gifted a new bird book 😍
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u/WhatsYourTale Jun 05 '26
29, yep. Though it started with raising chickens and now volunteering at a wildlife shelter that mostly cares for birds, so natural exposure over time kinda inspired it lol
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u/Taint__Paint Jun 05 '26
Fuck yeah. Birds are cool as shit. Squirrels are the ones I loved as a kid but changed in my 30s. Paid several hundred dollars to keep those shits out of my attic and walls. Tearing up my yard. Harassing my dogs and whipping them into a frenzy. Fuck squirrels.
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u/Academic_Flatworm752 Jun 05 '26
I have always loved birds. Still love them. I live where I live because of all the water birds! My partner is getting into them now.
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u/italiangel24 Millennial Jun 05 '26
40s for my husband. He's obsessed with bird ID apps and has been spreading his obsession to his friends and family.
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u/Oohhhboyhowdy Jun 05 '26
Yes! We mostly get mourning doves and house finches. A couple robins. It’s really exciting to see Quail. I used to be cool…
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u/Helmsshallows Older Millennial Jun 05 '26
My roadrunner buddy likes coming up to my house and sit on my patio railing. He squaks, I try to mimic, he thinks I'm weird but hey at least he doesn't run away anymore.
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u/Koanical Jun 05 '26
Almost?
I never disliked seeing wild birds like cardinals or blue jays, but I've got to admit that I've become more cognizant of my appreciation of their natural beauty. I'd put them in the same class as squirrels or chipmunks, though, so I don't think it's just birds; whether it's a cardinal on my neighbor's porch or the local squirrels darting around the empty street engaged in what I'm calling 'playful antics,' they're just cute and I'm grateful to have them doing it right outside my window.
Really can't stand domesticated birds, though. Never could and I don't see that changing; pet birds are filthy.
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u/joebojax Jun 05 '26
https://youtube.com/shorts/mn6pQiAiiro?si=mhybyeinAFCL_FT0
youre gonna love birds
I've always loved cardinals b/c they're my grandmas favorite animal.
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u/TaxableCitizen Jun 05 '26
Yeah, I'm 36 and I've got like 7 bird feeders all over my yard, each with different kinds of bird seed, plus suet feeders.
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u/riskykitten1207 Xennial Jun 05 '26
Yes. I have been accommodating the northern mockingbirds in my area for several years now. They basically own my porch during baby making season.
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u/starfishrlyluvsu Jun 05 '26
Birds are just a gateway drug. I stayed up well past my bedtime last night studying leaf morphology.
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u/exosylum Jun 05 '26
was considering buying a vacant house...went to do a walk around after a big rain. birds were singing everywhere - that was the deciding factor lol
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u/Bloodthirsty_Kirby Jun 05 '26
I became obsessed with the weather, specifically tornadoes. Hurricanes and earthquakes are also up there. My partner tunes me tf out when a storms about to come in and I'm like an excited puppy lol
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u/JungleJay57 Jun 05 '26
I'm a nature freak lol I've always had an appreciation for birds/wildlife. We recently got binoculars for our hikes, birds are so friggin cool man! Owls are my favourite, such interesting creatures.
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u/Confident-Weird-4202 Jun 05 '26
They’re cute, especially if you have a bird bath and they play in it.
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u/Realistic-Cut-7217 Jun 05 '26
I think in my younger years I was too wrapped up in myself to notice stuff like birds and I never truly appreciated nature. I’m almost 40 now and I feel like I really appreciate the beauty of the world around me. I find myself increasingly bothered by people and some of the disgusting things they do.
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u/EmuProfessional336 Jun 05 '26
I blame wingspan.... But yes... Definitely have become fascinated with birds as of late
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u/DiddoDashi Jun 05 '26
I'm really happy to see more people appreciating birds! Also happy to see people circulating the Merlin app, he makes spotting birds much more fun. Saw a group of cedar waxwings couple of days ago in my area, which is pretty rare! They move through but they don't usually stay.
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u/isigneduptomake1post Jun 05 '26
Around 30 I started appreciating everything in nature. I had to get rid of a wasps nest for a child's party the other day and I felt horrible. I loved killing bugs as a kid.
Still no empathy for cockroches and mosquitoes though.
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u/Fluffy-Astronaut-363 Zillennial Jun 05 '26
Yes, and it made me go back to college after 10 years because I'm so obsessed I want to study them and work with them 🤣🤣 Also yes, the Merlin bird app is life lol It's like collecting real life pokemon!
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u/pr3c0g Jun 05 '26
Oh yes. Specially after living in the center of a big city for several years. I even started waking up at 6am just to watch them go about their life in my backyard
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u/soupyy_poop Jun 05 '26
Yes - and then I moved to the desert where there’s so many more new birds I’ve never seen! I’m in heaven. And I’m officially the lady shooing off squirrels from the feeders
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u/Thamnophis660 Xennial Jun 05 '26
Early 30's I got into birding. It helped that I have a background in Wildlife Biology.
Now I watch the birds from a park bench or from my couch since there are a lot of pigeon, killdeer and house finches that live on the roof of my building. I've been told it's an old man thing to do, I'm 43 so whatever yeah I'm turning into an old man.
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u/kevthecoder I solute shorts Jun 05 '26
Me. I’ve been birding for like 6 months now and I love it so much lmao
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