Raising the binoculars, the birds that were once taken for granted now appear new.

On a Sunday afternoon at 4:30PM last year, in the heart of Seoul's Seocho-gu, near Yongjacheon stream, the author prepared to embark on their first birdwatching expedition. The only equipment they carried were a pair of binoculars, a mobile phone with the 'Merlin Bird ID' app, a small notebook and pencil, a feather journal, comfortable clothing, and a sense of excitement.

Birdwatching has become a new hobby for the 2030 generation, with support groups and related literature emerging. Social media posts about birdwatching expeditions were filling up within minutes, and bird-related merchandise was selling well. The author was drawn to birdwatching to learn more about these fascinating creatures. They were accompanied by a professional who could guide them through the experience.

Publishing house 'Molpress' was represented by author Bye Hyun-jung, who had developed an interest in birds after the pandemic, often creating natural landscape essays during her walks around nearby trails. One pivotal moment was discovering a kingfisher near Dano-lake, which made her feel a sense of life in a creature that had previously appeared just as a distant dot.

The book 'New News from Birds' released in December 2023 contains illustrations of various birds and stories of encounters made during birdwatching. Bye Hyun-jung explained that Seoul's numerous parks and forests are suitable for birdwatching, with Yongjacheon being a particularly good spot due to its proximity to water, attracting various waterbirds and songbirds.

The first skill to master in birdwatching is the proper use of binoculars, which is not difficult but requires practice to avoid panic when encountering birds. Affordable binoculars suitable for learning birdwatching are available. The author's first bird sighting was a pair of moorhens near a cement bridge. While they were usually uninterested in moorhens, seeing them up close through the binoculars revealed their smooth, sturdy brown and gray feathers.

Later, they spotted a flock of cranes in the distance. With the author's guidance, they used their binoculars to observe the cranes closely, noticing the sleekness of their beaks and the beautiful blue feathers on their bills. The author then shared that the cranes they observed were about 1 to 2 years old. The cranes, standing attentively on the riverbank, had a unique posture that caught their attention.

After birdwatching, the author continued along Yongjacheon, encountering another crane flying low. The encounter felt like having a conversation with the crane. Despite the hot and humid weather, the author found the experience enjoyable. Summer is considered the 'rainy season' for birdwatching, as the dense foliage makes it difficult to distinguish between species.

However, it offers the advantage of being able to observe birds near water or trees. Spring and autumn are also suitable seasons for birdwatching, with winter providing a snowy backdrop that makes it easier to find and observe birds. The joy of birdwatching varies by season, with each offering different species to observe. The author compared the anticipation of finding a specific bird to the excitement of waiting for a phone call on a landline in the pre-smartphone era.

Even if the desired bird does not appear, the anticipation is part of the experience. Birdwatching has become a more casual and everyday hobby, with community centers and ecological organizations regularly hosting birdwatching experiences and workshops. Even children are encouraged to take up birdwatching, as it offers a refreshing break from the constant notifications of smartphones.

After the first birdwatching experience, the author began observing nearby birds and recording their sightings in the 'Merlin Bird ID' app, as well as listening to their calls. They realized that many birds were present in their neighborhood, changing their perspective on the natural world around them.