Heard Someone Ask if 78 is "Too Old" for Birding. Let's Settle This
The other day, I was scrolling through a birding forum I'm in, and a post grabbed me. "I'm 78," the person wrote. "Always been curious about birds. Am I too old to start?"
My first thought? Absolutely not.
The community's response was a wonderful, chaotic flood of "NO!" and "Go for it!" and "I started at 80!"
If you're asking yourself that same question—whether you're 78, 88, or 98—let's get this out of the way right now. You are not too old. In fact, you might be at the perfect age to start.
It's Not a Sport, It's an Invitation
One of the things I love most about birding is that there's no "right" way to do it. It's not a competition. There's no age limit, no physical, and no scoreboard (unless you're a "lister," but that's a whole other story!).
I've met people who got their first pair of binoculars as a retirement gift and are now the most passionate, knowledgeable birders I know. This hobby isn't about speed or endurance. It's about patience. It's about curiosity. It’s about the sheer joy of seeing a flash of brilliant blue and knowing, "That's a Bluebird."
"But I Can't Hike Like I Used To." (You Don't Have To.)
This is the big one I hear. "I'd love to, but my knees are shot," or "I can't walk for miles."
I get it. But here's the secret: you don't have to.
Some of my best birding days have been from a chair on my back porch with a cup of coffee. A simple bird feeder is a front-row ticket to a daily show. "Backyard birding" is a huge, wonderful, and totally valid part of the hobby.
A good pair of binoculars or smart bird feeder with camera does the walking for you. You'd be amazed at what you can see from a park bench, a car, or your own living room window. Many parks and refuges have accessible, paved trails or boardwalks specifically for this reason.
It's More Than Just "Getting Outdoors"
Look, the "benefits" of a hobby can sound boring. But this is different.
It's a fantastic workout for your brain. Trying to figure out if that little brown bird is a House Sparrow or a House Finch? That's a puzzle. It keeps your mind firing.
And it’s… quiet. It makes you be quiet. In a world that's always buzzing with noise and news, just sitting and listening for a bird call is the best kind of mindfulness I've found. It's relaxing, but you're also fully engaged.
The Best Part? The People.
This is the part nobody tells you about at first. Birders are, by and large, some of the most generous, welcoming people you'll meet.
We love to share what we know. We get excited when a new person gets excited. My local Audubon group has folks from 17 to 87. Nobody cares how old you are—they just want to know what you've seen.
Joining a local group walk (they usually have very easy, accessible ones) or even just posting a fuzzy phone picture in an online group asking, "What's this bird?" is the fastest way to find a community.
And don't be afraid of the tech. An app like Merlin Bird ID or smart bird feeder camera with AI bird identification is like having a birding expert in your pocket. You can even hold your phone up, and it will listen to the birds and tell you what's singing. It feels like magic.
So, back to that 78-year-old on the forum. I truly hope they're out there buying a field guide.
Because 78 isn't an expiration date. It's a starting line. All you need is a window, a little curiosity, and the willingness to look up. The birds don't care how old you are. They're waiting.
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