As spring begins to emerge from the frost of winter, birds make the long migratory flight back to colder regions, preparing themselves for the breeding season. It’s possible to observe this influx through birding, a common hobby that involves the identification of different species of birds, observing their behaviors, and appreciating their beauty and diversity. Many people have turned this activity into a hobby and different organizations host birdwatching events.

“I really represent myself as a birder, but I am a life member of the New Jersey Audubon Society. ... I also do a lot of volunteering with the Watershed Institute,” said Mary-Joan Gaynor, a long-time Princeton resident and avid birdwatcher.

While some people participate in various activities of birdwatching within an organization, others do it for fun.

“I describe myself as a hobbyist. I am aware of the Princeton Birding Society, which I haven’t been able to join yet for a bird-watching excursion. I’ve hosted some of my classmates for bird watching at Institute Woods, and I recently auctioned a community service auction bird watching trip at Institute Woods later this year,” said Matteo Treviño, a student at Princeton University.

Past birding events such as the Great Backyard Bird Count, had participants monitor bird feeders and record their observations, a way for people to still interact with nature while staying indoors. Upcoming birding events such as the World Series of Birding are hosted by the New Jersey Audubon, encouraging participants to collaborate on recording as many bird species as possible, through visual and/or auditory cues.

“It’s sort of a competition ... You get involved with a team and you go out for a period of 24 hours and record as many bird species as you can recognize visually or auditorily,” said Gaynor.

In terms of equipment, birdwatching is generally an outdoor activity that involves keeping a notepad, people mainly use binoculars and writing utensils, mainly for viewing the birds and providing a description. Newer equipment such as digiscopes, which are cameras attached to scopes, enable both bird watching and photography. Other advancements in technology allow birdwatchers to identify species of birds based on a few observations, such as Cornell Labs’ app Merlin Bird ID.

“You put in the size [and] shape of the bird and it will figure out [its species] ... They [also] have a sound ID feature on the app, [which will listen] to the bird song or call and it will show you what the bird is,” said Gaynor.

However, there are concerns about the state of the environment. The recent avian flu has impacted birds such as chickens and hawks and is fatal for all affected species. Alterations to the habitats of local organisms affect the populations of birds, as well as many other animals. The ingestion of the pesticide DDT once posed a dire concern to the bald eagle population, which declined and became critically endangered.

“[Before], you would really have to try hard to see one in New Jersey. ... Now there are bald eagle pairs. There are hundreds of them in the state. And that was because [of] the banning of DDT,” said Gaynor.

Nature cleanups are a collective effort, allowing for both the maintenance of the habitat and forming new connections with members of the community. Establishments such as the Watershed Institute and Friends of Princeton Open Space host many cleanups at natural preserves, such as the Mountain Lakes Preserve. For conservation efforts in everyday life, civilians can reduce the consumption of electricity and engage in reducing plastic pollution by recycling and opting for reusable options.

The conservation of wildlife is crucial for the survival of birds, serving as the staples of nature. One of nature’s most recognizable sounds is the singing of birds, vital for the beauty of the environment and for maintaining ecosystem balance. The preservation of nature’s well-being is not only vital for human life but also for the countless other organisms that interact with birds.

Birds of Princeton: interviewing local birdwatchers

Picture this: it’s 4:00 p.m., and you’ve just gotten home
from school with a mountain load of assignments on your
to-do list. You make yourself a snack, plug in your phone,
immediately open Instagram or TikTok, and start scrolling.
30 minutes later, you tell yourself, “Just five more minutes.”
When you check the time again, it’s already 5:00 p.m. The
stress of the never-ending pile of work sets in, and you
scramble to make up for lost time.

This scenario isn’t unusual — it’s a daily reality for many
teenagers. Popular social media platforms like Snapchat,
TikTok, and Instagram are designed to grab and hold
your attention, using algorithms that prioritize engaging
and personalized content. While these platforms offer
endless opportunities
for connection,
entertainment, and
self-expression ,
their pervasive and
addictive nature can
be detrimental to
teens. The impact
of a social media
addiction goes far
beyond wasted
time. According
to research by the
Surgeon General
of the United
States, Vivek
Murthy, excessive
social media use
can disrupt sleep
patterns, increase
stress levels, and
contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. While it’s easy to blame
the platforms, the real problem lies in the ability to take
control through self-regulation. Developing a conscious
digital routine is crucial for teens to be able to protect
their mental health, boost their productivity,
and build long-lasting healthy habits.
> "The real problem
lies in the ability
to take control
through self regulation."

One reason why self-regulation of social
media use isn’t prevalent among teens is
forced parental regulation via daily screen
time limits. Although it effectively reduces the
reported amount of time spent on their phones,
many students feel frustrated when it restricts
communication with friends and see it as an indication of
overall lack of trust
from their parents.
Choosing to take
regulation of screen
time into your own
hands, rather than
relying on rules
imposed by others,
fosters responsibility,
self-discipline,
and independence
— skills that are
necessary for a
successful life down
the road. As teenagers
grow older and move
beyond their parents’
jurisdiction, the
habits they develop
now will shape their
future. Later on,
unhealthy screen use as a teen can snowball into challenges with time
management, focus, and well-being. Learning to selfregulate early on equips teens with the ability to make
intentional, healthy choices and build habits that align
with their goals. And even better, successfully
managing screen time independently brings
that satisfying sense of accomplishment and
control, far more rewarding than simply
following rules set by someone else. It’s
an empowering step toward becoming an
independent, responsible adult.

Of course, getting in the habit of selfregulating screen time is much easier said than done. Setting
app limits with the built-in screen time might work for the
first few weeks, but motivation gradually wanes, making
it far too easy for teenagers to simply tap “Ignore Limit
For Today” and fall right back into their old routine. In
order to combat these common relapses, students should
consider downloading stricter screen time apps that make
it much harder to turn off an app’s limit for the day. In the
time it takes to maneuver through the settings, teenagers
can weigh whether or not five more minutes of Instagram
reels is actually worth it. Additionally, some apps feature a
reward system that can help motivate students to stay on
track with their screen time goals. 

With the endless amounts of entertainment available
at our fingertips and our generation’s cultural emphasis
on online connectivity, it’s not an easy task to resist the
temptation to spend hours glued to our phones. There is
no silver bullet that will destroy our addiction to social
media — rather, we need to develop a healthy relationship
with our devices that starts by taking personal ownership
of our screen usage. Only by assuming the responsibilities
that come with the privilege of using social media can we
truly gain the freedom and independence we all value.

Photo: Emily Kim
Jessica Chen ’26 and Angelica Hu ’27 scroll on their phones
during break.

Angelica Hu's Work