Here’s to the birdwatchers! Optimistic, slightly eccentric custodians of wonder and joy and passion and love

At its heart, birdwatching is an act of quiet rebellion, says Natalie Kyriacou. It is the gentle act of noticing – the willingness to see the world around you

Cover photo:  ‘Birding isn’t merely a hobby. It’s a lifestyle, like wearing Crocs or having a Goop subscription.’ Photograph: Hill Street Studios/Getty Images