Broome Bird Observatory warden Jamie Van Jones said the increased interest from young people was "fantastic".
asserted
interest → say → people
"I'm getting lots of passionate young people through the observatory, lots of young people on tour with a list of birds they want to see," she said.
asserted
she → get → birds
"If you talk stereotypes around birdwatchers, it's khaki clothes, binoculars and cameras, a bum bag — a dorky look.
asserted
it → talk → birdwatchers
That's changed."
asserted
That → change → ?
Ms Van Jones said birdwatchers were enthusiasts of any age who travelled widely to find new birds and experience nature.
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who → say → nature
She has been a wildlife guide around the world for a decade and spent the past two years at the Broome Bird Observatory.
asserted
She → spend → Observatory
The charitable organisation is dedicated to research and education on shorebirds, such as godwits and knots, which migrate between Roebuck Bay and the Northern Hemisphere.
"
asserted
which → dedicate → Bay
People are craving to be outside.
asserted
People → crave → ?
It's about being connected to the outdoor world, and when you're birding, you're in the moment," Ms Van Jones said.
asserted
Jones → connect → moment
Young birders connect with nature
The increase in young Aussies birdwatching is attributed to pandemic lockdowns forcing people to slow down and take up "nana technology" hobbies like knitting, crochet or baking bread.
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increase → connect → bread
When Ella Kerr scrolls through her phone, she is looking at lists of birds she has seen or checking their identity on an app.
asserted
she → scroll → app
The 29-year-old Melbourne woman caught the birdwatching bug during long COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
"There were just all these birds …
asserted
woman → catch → 2020
I was seeing parts of our environment I hadn't noticed until then," Ms Kerr said.
asserted
Kerr → see → environment
Ms Kerr planned her holiday to Darwin and Broome around birdwatching and was keen to tick some birds unique to northern Australia off her list.
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Kerr → plan → list
"I like that it gets me out into nature, just listening to the sounds," she said.
asserted
she → like → sounds
"And when you see a new bird, it's even more exciting."
It is a sentiment shared by 21-year-old Will Vasic, who travelled from Melbourne to work at the Broome Bird Observatory.
asserted
who → see → Observatory
"I never really thought I'd get into it at such a young age," he said.
asserted
he → think → age
"But it's got me places where I never thought I'd go."
asserted
I → get → places
Social media driving birder trend
asserted
media → drive → trend
Birdwatching has been dubbed a "new form of meditation" in Hollywood, as celebrities embrace the pastime and podcast about it.
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celebrities → dub → it
Young birdwatchers are enthusiastically posting their sights on social media.
asserted
birdwatchers → post → media
Callum Wells formed the Talbot Bay Birdwatching Club (TBBC) in the remote Kimberley last year with friends.
asserted
Wells → form → friends
"We're trying to break down that stigma from it being a bit nerdy to getting out there looking for birds is something that everyone should appreciate," he said.
asserted
he → try → that
TBBC has become a social media sensation because of its larrikin humour.
asserted
TBBC → become → humour
Followers share their own birding finds with Mr Wells, including British actor Sean Bean, who hosts the Get Birding podcast.
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who → share → podcast
"When Boromir from Lord of the Rings [Sean Bean] is commenting on your stuff, you're pretty excited!"Mr Wells said.
asserted
Wells → comment → stuff
Mr Wells said while birdwatching had taken him to "amazing places", it allowed him to spend time with mates and have a laugh.
asserted
him → say → laugh
"It's good, clean fun," the 33-year-old said.
asserted
old → say → ?
Ms Van Jones hoped birdwatching encouraged people to be more environmentally aware.
asserted
birdwatching → hop → people
"There are so many threats to the natural world and, through connection, they start to care and be the future champions for the environment," she said.
asserted
she → be → environment
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