Birdwatching surges in Denmark as young enthusiasts drive digital boom

Birdwatching in Denmark is no longer the preserve of older men in Icelandic sweaters, with a sharp rise in young enthusiasts fuelled by digital tools and online communities, according to experts speaking to public broadcaster DR ahead of the country’s annual Bird Day.

Joakim Matthiesen, a biologist with the Danish Ornithological Society, said the organisation has seen a “self-reinforcing effect” as more young people discover birdwatching through apps and social networks. “In recent years, we’ve seen growing interest, particularly among children and young people, in getting out into nature to watch birds,” he said. Many start with family outings before joining peer groups—something that was far harder to arrange in the past.

The society has previously reported tripling its under-30 membership in just three years. Matthiesen highlighted apps like Fuglebingo and Merlin—which identifies birds by their calls—as key drivers. While he acknowledged apps can misidentify species, he dismissed concerns about “cheating”: “Using them as a tool to start learning about the birds in your garden or local woods is perfectly fine.”

Morten D.D. Hansen, a biologist and author of I Watch Birds, described the shift as transformative. “When I was a boy in the 1980s, I was practically the only one in Vejle who did this—I even got my pants pulled down for being weird,” he said. “Now it’s smart, articulate young people discovering this vast world out there.” He attributed the boom to digital access breaking down barriers: “It’s no longer just ‘bird nerds’ in sweaters with binoculars. Kids are competing with friends to spot the most species, which offers something completely different from typical social media.”

Hansen also noted the mental health benefits for young people in a performance-driven culture: “Discovering there’s a world beyond yourself does something really good for them.”

Bird Day is being marked across Denmark on Sunday with guided walks and local events.