Reasons to be Cheerful – Discover the joy of being a bird nerd
Why birding makes birds happy, too
Birdwatching in protected public lands highlights the importance of conserving natural habitats and expanding access to the outdoors for all. Photo credit: Trust for Public Land
Wild bird populations in the United States and Canada have dropped by nearly one-third since 1970, largely due to habitat loss, according to a 2019 study published in Science. And Audubon Society’s 2025 “State of the Bird” report found that grassland and aridland species have both declined by 40 percent.
Our love of the outdoors can help change that. Even though Trust for Public Land’s primary mission is to connect people to the outdoors, they do it by protecting land and creating parks that often include existing, restored, or expanded bird habitat. This includes forests, grasslands, mountaintops, seashores, urban greenways and neighborhood pocket parks. That’s a win whether you’re a bird or a birder.
Birders in Lake Superior Falls, Wisconsin, spot a bird in the lush tree canopy. Photo credit: Trust for Public Land
To become a birder, all you need are your eyes and ears. Keep them open and tuned; soon you’ll notice a flash of red among the leaves, a flute-like song, or a hypnotic murmuration. Moments like these are what create lifelong birders, and the only way to experience them is to get outside. According to birding expert Tykee James, “It’s not the knowledge of birds that makes you a birder. It’s the joy you have about birds and how you share it.”
This April, together with Trust for Public Land, James and other experts are sharing their own joy, tips and resources for getting into nature and seeking out the experiences that make people Happiest Outside. From birding to gardening, camping to forest bathing. Dive in. Read up. Then head outdoors, and let your smile grow wider.
