Birding Blues: When Apps Take Over Your Hobby

Quentin and Owen Reiser, two brothers from Illinois, decided to take on a big year challenge. This means they tried to spot as many bird species as possible in one year. They bought a Kia Sedona and hit the road. Their journey was documented in a film called Listers. They faced many challenges, like sleeping in parking lots and cooking beans. Quentin even took magic mushrooms on a seabird tour. The film is not just about their adventure. It also talks about how apps like eBird change hobbies. eBird helps birders track their sightings and compare them with others. At first, the brothers liked the app. But later, they felt it took the fun out of birding. Quentin said he liked bird-watching but not the competition. This is not just a problem for birders. Many hobbies now have apps that turn them into games. For example, runners use Strava, and knitters use Ravelry. These apps can make hobbies more fun, but they can also make people focus on stats instead of enjoyment. The brothers interviewed other birders who felt the same way. One top-ranked birder said he wouldn't bird-watch without eBird. This raises a question: Is his hobby really bird-watching, or is it the app? The film shows how apps can change hobbies. They can turn a fun activity into a competition. Quentin even said he was tired of the app. He loved birding but hated eBird. The film might make some people stop using the app, but it might also attract new users.