The overlap between birding and punk might seem strange to outsiders, but for birdpunks like Croasdale, the Do-It-Youself (DIY) values that shape punk living feed perfectly into low-frills activities such as birding. The DIY aesthetic and mentality is a core philosophy for punks, who thrive on independence and individualism. Their music bucks the profiteering industry of labels and promoters and travels over a homegrown network of venues and websites. The ethic also spills over to visual media, politics, economics, and social philosophy. Hospitality, trust, and authenticity are key traits in the community.
When you consider these principles, it’s clear why many punkers are drawn to birding and its rustic qualities. Or vice versa: why their early love of birds steers them straight into the throes of punk. It’s a two-way street that draws out the best of both worlds, forming a distinctive subculture that’s holistic, aware, and expressive.
This weekend the local Audubon was doing their bird count - I always try to stop by my local birdwatching platform. They're there all day, and if you express a bit of interest they'll use their scopes to show you whatever birds and around, tell you all kinds of stuff about them, and they've always got great stories.
It's one of those things that really makes me think a solarpunk world could work. They're out here, basically just researching birds and teaching about them for free. I've known others who maintain trails, work as tour guides in state parks, etc, all just for love of nature. Anyone who wonders what people would do if they didn't have to work has never seen the kind of drive folks like these have.