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Initial involvement into birding: triggers, gender, and decade effects—a mixed-methods study

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  • Christoph Randler

    (Eberhard Karls University)

  • Nadja Marx

    (Eberhard Karls University)

Abstract

Birdwatching is an increasing nature-related activity, with an important influence on data collection of citizen science programs. Initial involvement into a leisure activity is an important life event, but also of interest for nature conservation and citizen science projects. Here, we assessed the initiation into birding by an open-ended question. Based on an online survey, mainly in Austria, Germany and Switzerland we recruited 2668 participants, with 2464 people reporting a specific reason for their initial involvement. Data were analyzed by a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Initiation age was 22.90 years (±15.27). The reasons for initial involvement were in descending order: social influence, nature experience, bird-centered triggers, education (formal/informal), cognitive-emotional aspects (interest, curiosity), other emotions, involvement via other hobbies/jobs, life-course events, ecological aspects, bird clubs/groups and opportunity. Men were more influenced by males and women more by females. Men experienced birding initiation more by club/group and the venue of other activities (job/hobby). Women were more influenced by nature experience, bird experience, emotions, and life-course events. Social initiation became less important during decades, while ecological aspect, education, other activities, and life-course events became more important. The study has implications on program developers and nature conservation organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Christoph Randler & Nadja Marx, 2022. "Initial involvement into birding: triggers, gender, and decade effects—a mixed-methods study," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:9:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-022-01062-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01062-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rachel L White & Katie Eberstein & Dawn M Scott, 2018. "Birds in the playground: Evaluating the effectiveness of an urban environmental education project in enhancing school children’s awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards local wildlife," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Renan de Almeida Barbosa & Christoph Randler & José Vicente Lima Robaina, 2021. "Values and Environmental Knowledge of Student Participants of Climate Strikes: A Comparative Perspective between Brazil and Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-18, July.
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