750,000 young Brits picked up binoculars and went birdwatching

Nearly 750,000 Gen Z Brits now regularly go birdwatching, a 1,088% rise since 2018, according to research by Fifty5Blue published by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. That makes it the second-fastest-growing hobby among 16- to 29-year-olds, behind only jewellery making. Ben Smith, 23, is one of them. His perfect day starts before sunrise with a flask of tea, binoculars and a local trail. "I don't necessarily have to see anything special," he said. Smith traces his love of birds to childhood trips in his father's van across rural Scotland, waking up to look for red kites and kestrels. He now studies zoology near Loch Lomond, where friends recently spent an evening paddling a canoe while listening to oystercatchers overhead. He credits climate anxiety, social media and, quietly, his grandparents, who "always seem to know the bird calls." RSPB reserves are now free for 16- to 24-year-olds.