Birding. I know the hobby has a reputation for being boring and that people who like birding are grey old men staring at bushes all day, but I disagree. Birding is awesome.

For starters I think the subject matter is very cool. The vast diversity that the different species of bird show across the spectrum is incredible and it makes it possible for there to always be more to discover. You have raptors with badass bills and talons, you have birds that fly a couple of thousand kilometers roundtrip each year, there are colourful birds, there are birds that dance, there are birds that can stand still for hours on end, there are birds that sing beautifully, there are birds that can imitate others... There is nobody on earth who has seen every single species of bird, let alone someone who knows everything about every species. It will always be possible to find new species that you haven't seen yet, observe new behaviours or see a certain plumage that is new to you.

Secondly, the habitat of birds. Nature is impressive as can be and birdwatching is a great way to get to places that your average Joe wouldn't find himself so quickly. I have been on many adventures in some of the earths most beautiful places and many of those adventures started out as a birdwatching trip.

Then there is the competetive aspect. Everyone likes a bit of competition, right? Well, the listing or twitching community within birders is quite lively and there are people who will drop everything and start driving when news of a rare bird in their area hits the radiowaves. There are people who do a big day and try to see as many species of birds in one day as possible, or even a big year and do the same thing but all year long. If you want competition, the birding world certainly isn't lacking.

Furthermore the hobby is very compatible with other hobbies, which is always a good thing. Do you like hiking? Photography? Travel? Taking walks in the park? Jogging? Gardening? Literally any hobby that you do outdoors can be combined with birding. All you have to do is keep an eye to the sky.

Fifth there is the fact that you can do it anywhere, at any time. Did you miss your bus and need to wait another hour for the next one? Look at birds to pass the time. Long car ride? Look out the window for birds. Sitting in your garden? Birds. Birds are everywhere, always. You will never be able to keep your eyes off them again once you get sucked in by the hobby.

Next there is the price of the hobby. A gaming computer will set you back a couple hundred of bucks just to get started, a gym membership can cost you hundreds of bucks a year, a car or motorbike is a big investment too. To get started with birding all you need is something you already have. Your eyes and your ears. Sure you will most likely invest in a book and some binoculars, but it will still be a very cheap hobby compared to many, if not most, others.

Then we have the motivation to get out. I am a young guy and I love technology. Sometimes it can be hard to drag myself away from my computer, but birding is always a great motivation to get outside instead of sitting on my ass behind a screen and browse Reddit all goddamned day.

Lastly it is a great exercise. Not just physically but also mentally. You will be walking through the woods and the mud and the mountains and the thick bushes, you will need to stalk and be silent and then run to catch up, you need to listen intently and see eveything that is happening around you. You will need to memorize a hundred different birds with five times as many different plumages and ten times as many different calls and songs. You will challenge yourself to always know more, always see better, always hear clearer, always walk quieter.