You may be familiar with the various memes detailing the fact that once you reach middle age, you're automatically sorted, Harry Potter hat-style, into one of a handful of hobbies, such as sourdough bread making, gardening, or bird-watching. I can't contradict this, since I'm a middle-aged person who got sorted into bird-watching. But I do know that enjoying birds and their various activities is fun for all ages. Birds are beautiful, interesting, and unpredictable, and it's fascinating to keep a running life list of all the birds you've seen and hope to see in your lifetime.
Whether someone you know is in their bird-watching phase, preparing for this phase, or has been in it for decades, all of these unique gifts—whether for traveling bird-watchers or backyard enthusiasts alike—are things either I or another bird-loving Reviews team member tested, was gifted, or bought IRL and enjoyed.
For the tech-savvy, our Favorite Smart Bird Feeder stands out for its balance of price, features, reliability, and usability without a subscription, making it a great gift option that I have personally given. For those who prefer traditional methods, my mom gifted my family a bird-bingo game about 10 years ago, and to this day, it is the single most-played and most-enjoyed game we have ever owned, in any genre. Shuffle the small cards and call them out; players place a blue cardstock square on their bingo card if they have that bird. My son loved it, his friends loved it, neighbors loved it, extended family loved it—it can be played by up to six people at a time, and is suitable for all ages. No reading or parsing of rules required. Best of all, neither my husband nor I minded playing it multiple times a day for years on end (a bonus feature important for any parent of young kids).
For beginning birders, quality binoculars and a life list journal would make a great gift. WIRED contributing reviewer Caramel Quin declared these the Best Budget Binoculars. I bought a set for each member of my family for a cruise to Alaska last summer, and I'm glad I did. They're lightweight (7.2 ounces) yet sturdy, with an aluminum casing instead of plastic, and small enough to slip into a pocket if you'll be hiking and don't want to deal with them around your neck.
A Customized Bird Seed Subscription offers a fun spin on what would otherwise be a boring gift. You can choose either a subscription or a one-time purchase of three boxes, with options to customize the blend. Each box comes with a personalized letter from founder Susan Vandergriff about which birds to look out for in your area. The blend for my yard—black-oil sunflower seeds, peanut splits, safflower, and millet—was spot-on; birds loved it so much there was little to no mess.
