Caitlin Andrew, initially resistant to birdwatching during childhood family outings, discovered its profound benefits for her mental well-being in her early twenties. Now, she is part of a burgeoning demographic of young people turning to ornithology as a source of escape and connection.
"I was 24 and living in Glasgow as a student," Andrew recalled. "I had poor mental health and was feeling a bit low, and finding it quite difficult to connect to the world around me."
During a holiday to Islay, an island renowned for its diverse bird population, Andrew experienced a shift in perspective. "When we were there we did a lot of birdwatching," she said. "And as you can imagine there are incredible things to see - choughs and white-tailed eagles."
Instead of the grumpiness she associated with her childhood experiences, Andrew found peace and a deeper connection to her surroundings. This newfound passion led her to request binoculars for her birthday, much to her parents' delight.
Initially, Andrew felt a sense of isolation in her hobby, perceiving it as an activity predominantly associated with older generations. "It is a stereotype, isn't it? It's associated with older people with a sedate life and picking it up in retirement - all things which I don't think are negative at all. But among my peers I was certainly the only person doing it properly in any kind of capacity."
Her participation in a BBC Alba documentary about her hobby revealed she was far from alone. She connected with the Inverness chapter of the Feminist Bird Club, an organization founded in New York to promote inclusivity and safety in birdwatching. Andrew also encountered numerous female professionals and volunteers in bird conservation.
"In the birdwatching community, everyone is so friendly and happy to tell you they have something interesting in their scope or have seen something interesting," she noted.
Research for the RSPB indicates a significant rise in birdwatching across Britain, with the total number of participants growing from 2.7 million eight years ago to over four million. The study highlights a dramatic increase in Gen Z enthusiasts, aged 16 to 29, who number 724,000 today, up from an estimated 61,000 in 2018.
Andrew's favorite species include the rare crested tit, often spotted in the Highlands, and the powerful gannet, which she likens to "dinosaurs." She finds seasonal markers, such as the arrival of chiffchaffs in spring and redwings and fieldfares in winter, to be a grounding connection to the natural world.
"Life can be so turbulent," Andrew reflected. "Things go and down and you never know what's coming - the political nonsense and all the rest of it. And these little animals, they are just all about finding food, raising babies, fledging their young and then doing it all again - they're just trying to survive. It does make your problems feel very small."
