Photo credit: Paweł Świątkiewicz.
By Piotr Tryjanowski, Łukasz Jankowiak, Peter Mikula, Paweł Czechowski, Annette Menzel, and Michał Polakowski.
Observing rare birds is a popular and important activity for birdwatchers, playing a key role in nature conservation. Birdwatchers often help with conservation efforts by documenting rare species. However, the factors that influence birdwatcher gatherings around rare birds are not well understood. Our study explored what affects the size and gender composition of birdwatching groups in Poland.
We interviewed 50 birdwatchers and analysed photos from these gatherings from 1996 to 2022, covering 103 observations of 71 rare bird species. We found that rarer birds attract larger groups, a trend that has grown in recent years as more birdwatchers eagerly seek out very rare birds. Proximity to urban centres and the duration the bird rarity stays in Poland also played a significant role, as birdwatchers were more likely to gather in larger numbers when the rare bird was closer to a city and when the bird stayed for a longer period there. More rare bird species were spotted during weekends than workdays but somewhat surprisingly fewer sightings in recent years. Interestingly, the proportion of female birdwatchers has grown over the years, with more women participating in observations of common rare birds.
These findings show that birdwatching is not only about spotting rare species but also a social activity influenced by location and timing. The growing number of women in birdwatching reflects broader social changes. Understanding these factors helps appreciate the motivations behind birdwatching and can guide future conservation efforts.
In conclusion, birdwatching is shaped by the bird’s rarity, urban proximity, duration of presence, and the weekend effect, with more women joining the activity. This study sheds light on the social dynamics of birdwatching and aids in better understanding what drives birdwatchers to the field.
Relational Thinking 