Why do middle aged people become obsessed with birds?

[HauntedBungalow]

I have seen it many times. Onset appears to be between 40-45 and by 50 they are deep in the grip of it.

What is going on?

I was just thinking that my teens would never admit they're fascinated by birds. I doubt they'd admit it ever but may well be free to indulge that fascination again when they have kids of their own or reach that age where no one cares.

My 12 year old burst into my room yesterday morning to let me know there was a Pheasant in the garden. We see them all the time but never in the garden. She was ecstatic and woke the whole house up and then we all went to 'appreciate' it at the window. Pigeons are like puppies to us, we adore birds. I'm 33.

I'm.middle aged and I am not obsessed with birds. Nor are any of my middle aged friends. I do spend some time trying to keep my cat away from them, and I feed the local waterfowl in the winter. Does that count as obsessive?

I'm in my 50's and it's safe to say I've no interest in the feathery gits!!

Not obsessed, but definitely developing more of an appreciation than I’ve had before. It’s a real phenomenon!

I must have a faulty bird gene. The only bird watching I do is checking that the seagulls aren't cacking on my washing line.
I do have an overactive tea gene though.
Stage 1 - a nice cup of tea.
Stage 2 - a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.
Stage 3 - a nice cup of tea, a biscuit and a sit down.
Stage 4 - a nice cup of tea, a biscuit, a sit down and put my feet up.
Stage 5- a nice cup of tea a biscuit, a sit down , put my feet up, and a wee snooze.

I am at Stage 5 in my 50s.

That’s lovely ❤️

It's the age where you realise you need to stop and look and appreciate the world around you

Exactly. Becoming interested in plants and gardening is another thing that happens to many people around that age, for the same reason, I think. All it shows is that older people appreciate the finer and more important things in life. (That said, I have yet to buy a bird feeder, or try to grow anything .... but those things are on my list.)

I've loved birds since I was 3 apparently. I must have aged prematurely.

I even try to grow my own veg.

I talk to my resident Robin as well 😬

I was a Young Ornithologist and have always lived in the country and loved the natural world 🤷‍♀️ - just makes you appreciate how lucky we are to live in such an amazingly diverse and interesting environment 🙂

43 and when I was 26 I had my first son. We lived in the crappiest house on the planet but it had a beautiful tree outside the window and always had little birds hopping off the tree onto the windowsill and myself and my son would sit looking at them hopping about before flittering off. I’d take it over screens anytime and would recommend for making you a more chilled person!!

I’ve always been interested in birds since I was about 9. I have fond memories of visiting my grandparents house in Devon and out of sheer desperation prob because I never shut up and I was bored my granddad stuck me in their back bedroom that overlooked fields with a pair of binoculars and a bird book and set me a challenge of how many different birds I could spot in 2 hours.. spawned a lifelong interest in birds.

my ds aged 24 and dd2 21 and her partner are also mad on birds

Ps definitely look up dr Grainne cleary in Australia for a new take on birds- she’ll have you smiling in seconds!!!

I think it is more of a general appreciation of your world so gardening and garden birds are of more interest. Hit me at about 30 so earlier than most maybe?

Useful information.....

Or....

Its true, happened to me. I think earlier posters have got it right, I now take notice more of the world around me and get pleasure in the smaller things. Was always looking for excitement in my yoof, now its the birds and plants I like 😄

I'm affectionately (I hope) known as the Bird Nerd at work.

I hadn't a hope really, my mother and grandmother loved birds too and passed their knowledge on to me.

At home me, DH and adult DS discuss our sightings every evening. It's a particularly good day when one of us has sighted our local sparrowhawk, there's a flock of long-tailed tits on the feeders or we have more goldfinches than usual.

I'm all of a twitch right now, looking out for 'my' housemartins who nest on our gable every year and are due back from Africa any day.

LOL @Needmorelego 😂

🤣🤣 this hit me way before my 40s!!!

I'm middle-aged and I'm not obsessed with birds. I'm obsessed with bonsai trees. 😂

I’m a wildflower chucker myself.
Always have some on me. Over the years we are now seeing the benefit. Most roundabouts and verges near us were previously bereft of anything and are now all covered in wildflowers, if I’m driving around I chuck them out of the car window. It’s very rewarding.
That and feeding birds and foxes…….obviously.

Ooh, wildflower chucking : what an awesome idea. I'm going to need another pot ...