Participation in urban birdwatching has risen sharply among Gen Z and millennial residents of Philadelphia, according to recent observations.
The increase is associated with the isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing use of birding applications such as eBird and Merlin, and the sharing of sightings on social media platforms.
Historically a rural pastime, birding is now attracting younger city dwellers, indicating a shift in how the activity is practiced within the urban environment.