Bird Nerd Checklist: Are You One of Us?

As a self-declared, certified Bird Nerd, every year Eva finds herself eagerly anticipating the annual Aussie Bird Count for weeks in advance, like a kid at Christmas. To fill the time between now and the next count, she’s made the ultimate guide for figuring out if you’re a Bird Nerd too.

They can often be seen on beaches, in national parks and in botanic gardens, moving slowly through bushes, gazing ever upward into the trees, typically with binoculars in hand. Although once considered endangered, The Bird Nerd is making an extraordinary comeback by infecting everyday Australians with their knowledge and enthusiasm. 

Although symptoms may vary in strength, there are some clear signs to keep an eye out for. Here’s how to tell if you’ve become a Bird Nerd.

Listen: If You’re Trying to Find 700+ Bird Species on a Pushbike, You’re a Bird Nerd For Sure

Stage 1: Early Signs

• Seeing a bird and having a strong desire to know the creature not simply as ‘a bird’, but by its real name
• Googling a bird you’ve seen to try and identify it then wondering ‘Surely there’s an app for this…’ (spoiler alert yes there are many apps for that)
• Buying all the birdwatching guidebooks you can get your mitts on (this is a goodie if you need to scratch that itch: Compact Field Guide to Australian Birds – enter ‘WAE15’ at checkout for 15% off if you want a copy!)
• Wondering if there’s a better way to get a closer look at the birds, perhaps if your eyes could somehow zoom in…

Read more: Why Birdwatching Will Improve Your Next Adventure

Stage 2: The Transition Has Begun

• Hikes take longer, likely due to the need to pause in curiosity each time you hear a rustle or a bird song nearby (‘What was that…’)
• You’ve discovered the beauty of eyes that zoom aka binoculars!

Read more: Best Birdwatching Binoculars for Spotting Your Feathered Friends

• When someone points out a bird, instead of saying ‘Oh cool’ you say ‘Oh cool, a White throated tree creeper’
• Your willingness to get up early has increased dramatically. Early worm gets the bird, or whatever 
• You have a written tally of birds you’ve seen
• You’ve begun connecting and bonding with other transitioning Bird Nerds

Stage 3: Bird Nerd Transition Complete

• You’ve got a second list of birds you really want to see but haven’t spotted yet
• You’ve perfected the art of the silent walk on even the crunchiest of path surfaces 
• You have the ability to get binoculars adjusted and out of your bag while not taking your eyes off the bird you just spotted. 
• You have a bird book filled with written notes and dog eared corners

Maybe it’s this one? Compact Field Guide to Australian Birds (Enter ‘WAE15’ at checkout for 15% off if you want a copy!)

• You actively plan hikes and other adventures to find cool rare birds
• You have a favourite bird. Actually, you probably have a few favourites you struggle to choose between
• You get so excited for bird week that you sign up to the Aussie Bird Count two months in advance (this is 100% autobiographical)
• Spending four nights on a remote island to count 240 penguins sounds like a dream come true to you

Read more: Why I Spent 4 Nights on a Remote Island Counting 240 Penguins

If you’ve discovered, upon reading this list, that you are in fact a bird nerd, congratulations! It’s not a curse, but a blessing. Be free to embrace the full extent of your nerdiness and make sure you self-medicate with regular walks in nature and some good quality bird chat, or time spent listening to bird playlists, at least once a week. 

If you happen to encounter a Bird Nerd in the wild, approach eagerly, with an open mind and a willingness to listen and talk for hours about birds. But beware! Interactions like these are incredibly contagious and you may find that soon enough you become a Bird Nerd yourself.

The Aussie Bird Count takes place every October! Sign up now to document the birds you spot in your local area. 

Bird Nerd Alert – Great Spots For Birdwatching

• Spot Tropical Birds in Lamington National Park’s Gondwana Rainforest
• Mou Waho Island is an Endangered Bird Sanctuary on Lake Wanaka
• Badu Mangroves Are Sydney’s Best Kept Wetland Secret
• Spot Endangered Birds on Tiritiri Matangi – An Island Near Auckland