Date: 24-01-2021

COVID-19 influences the behavior of birders!

Written by: Christoph Randler et al.

COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown Influences Nature-Based Recreational Activity: The Case of Birders

by Christoph Randler, Piotr Tryjanowski, Jukka Jokimäki, Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki and Naomi Staller

 

Based on our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the lockdown impact on birders.

Contrasting to earlier COVID-19 studies, which have concentrated on clinical, pathological, and virological topics, this study focused on the behavioral changes of birders. A total of 4484 questionnaire survey responses from 97 countries were received.

About 85% of respondents reported that COVID-19 has changed their birding behavior. The most significant change in birdwatchers’ behavior was related to the geographic coverage of birding activities, which became more local. People focused mostly on yard birding.

The knowledge about changes in birding behavior is important because it may have strong consequences for the data collection and long-term analyses of bird data. 

You may find the full article here