The unabated boom in birdwatching is welcome news to one of Australia's most remote bird sanctuaries near Broome in Western Australia's Kimberley.
Broome Bird Observatory warden Jamie Van Jones said the increased interest from young people was "fantastic".
"I'm getting lots of passionate young people through the observatory, lots of young people on tour with a list of birds they want to see," she said.
There are different categories of birdwatchers, with "twitchers" or "listers" renowned for dropping everything to catch a glimpse of a bird or spot as many types as possible.
Ms Van Jones said birdwatchers were enthusiasts of any age who travelled widely to find new birds and experience nature.
She has been a wildlife guide around the world for a decade and spent the past two years at the Broome Bird Observatory.
The charitable organisation is dedicated to research and education on shorebirds, such as godwits and knots, which migrate between Roebuck Bay and the Northern Hemisphere.
"People are craving to be outside. It's about being connected to the outdoor world, and when you're birding, you're in the moment," Ms Van Jones said.
The increase in young Aussies birdwatching is attributed to pandemic lockdowns forcing people to slow down and take up "nana technology" hobbies like knitting, crochet or baking bread.
When Ella Kerr scrolls through her phone, she is looking at lists of birds she has seen or checking their identity on an app.
The 29-year-old Melbourne woman caught the birdwatching bug during long COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
"There were just all these birds … I was seeing parts of our environment I hadn't noticed until then," Ms Kerr said.
Ms Kerr planned her holiday to Darwin and Broome around birdwatching and was keen to tick some birds unique to northern Australia off her list.
"I like that it gets me out into nature, just listening to the sounds," she said.
It is a sentiment shared by 21-year-old Will Vasic, who travelled from Melbourne to work at the Broome Bird Observatory.
"I never really thought I'd get into it at such a young age," he said.
"But it's got me places where I never thought I'd go."
Birdwatching has been dubbed a "new form of meditation" in Hollywood, as celebrities embrace the pastime and podcast about it.
Young birdwatchers are enthusiastically posting their sights on social media.
Callum Wells formed the Talbot Bay Birdwatching Club (TBBC) in the remote Kimberley last year with friends.
"We're trying to break down that stigma from it being a bit nerdy to getting out there looking for birds is something that everyone should appreciate," he said.
TBBC has become a social media sensation because of its larrikin humour.
Followers share their own birding finds with Mr Wells, including British actor Sean Bean, who hosts the Get Birding podcast.
Mr Wells said while birdwatching had taken him to "amazing places", it allowed him to spend time with mates and have a laugh.
"It's good, clean fun," the 33-year-old said.
Ms Van Jones hoped birdwatching encouraged people to be more environmentally aware.
"There are so many threats to the natural world and, through connection, they start to care and be the future champions for the environment," she said.