BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article
Front. Bird Sci.
Sec. Science of Birding
Preliminary findings from The Spark Bird Project: Learning about timing, emotions, and sparks through contextual self-defining narratives
Canisius University, Buffalo, United States
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Abstract
Introduction: Spark bird stories are a unique transformative life experience sharing the moment or moments that helped an individual develop their appreciation of birds. The Spark Bird Project gathers, shares, and studies these stories with the aim of building knowledge in order to inform the birding community's efforts to broadly spark and sustain an appreciation of birds. Methods: The present manuscript summarizes preliminary findings from 560 spark bird stories collected to date as part of a large panel study of birders. Results: Findings indicate that spark bird experiences happen across the lifespan with many happening in childhood and in recent years. Linguistic analyses and self-ratings of spark bird experiences indicate they are highly positive and engaging sparking curiosity and interest. Common spark birds include the Northern Cardinal and Great Blue Heron though over 200 birds as well as people and media are reported as sparks. Discussion: These preliminary findings from ongoing research provide initial insights to help better understand who birders are and who potential birders may be – insights which can help shape how organizations engage with birders to the potential benefit of birders, the birding community, and the birds.
Summary
Keywords
birding, developmental psychology, Emotions, narrative identity, spark birds
Received
01 May 2026
Accepted
03 August 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Lodi-Smith. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Jennifer Lodi-Smith
Disclaimer
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