The New York Times - Birds

A notification popping up on my phone usually means any number of unpleasant things: a message that my storage is low, a spammy email, or a reminder that my student loans are due. But since spring has returned, I am more often greeted with my favorite notification: “Rush hour at the feeder!” This message means a bird has visited my family’s smart feeder, and I’m in for a burst of unbridled delight.

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When my sisters and I first splurged on the Bird Buddy—a cheery, yellow house with a built-in camera that captures high-res footage of its visitors—as a gift for our dad, we bristled at the $300 price tag. But it has more than made up its worth in hours of joy and togetherness. I’m far from an ornithologist, but trust me: There is no more wholesome treat than an up-close-and-personal video of a Song Sparrow chowing down on seeds or a Tufted Titmouse perched delicately in the rain.

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Our family text thread is now full of pictures of first-time visitors and old regulars alike. And my phone is far from the only one popping off with avian chatter. Head of newsletters Sofia Sokolove’s group chat, normally full of dating horror stories and think-pieces, was consumed for weeks by the doves and other visitors to a friend’s Brooklyn fire escape window bird feeder—and the ensuing drama when a landlord demanded its removal.

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Appreciating birds is certainly no new phenomenon, but it seems to be having … a bit of a moment right now. Often things enter the zeitgeist for inexplicable (and annoying) reasons. But in the case of bird watching, it’s, well, a collective delight. Whether you’re looking through binoculars, poring over a smart bird feeder app, or just marveling from your window, never underestimate the day-making joy of spotting a friend in flight. (And then texting your loved ones about it.)

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