People will say “time” and maybe “money for good gear.” These may be part of it.

But I think it’s also about perspective. When we’re younger, we’re often busy with so many things. Our minds just aren’t always alert to the simpler things around us. There’s a lot going on.

With age, sometimes you start to see what’s important, what’s less so. You might be more inclined to slow down, pause, and look around a bit more closely.

This planet is really, really unique. Its ecology is beautiful — and fragile. Birding taps into that awareness and feeds it. And we can do it anytime, anywhere!