Wildlife watching
Finding wild mammals, bats and reptiles, from badger tracks to bat-detector clicks.
Wildlife watching
- To start
- $50
- Each month
- Nothing
- Time
- 2 hours a week
- Sessions
- 1.5 hours or more
- Where
- Out and about
- Who with
- On your own
Is it for you?
- It's all about living things.
- Every session brings something you haven't tasted, heard or seen.
- It keeps taking you somewhere new.
- There's no one to beat, ever.
You’ll like it if
- You want to have adventures
- You want to get really good at something
- You want to switch off
Maybe not if
- You want something for any weather
- You only have short gaps in your day
- You want something fast and exciting
What it feels like
Wildlife watchingAverage nature & Outdoors hobbyCalm
Company
Physical effort
Creative freedom
Brainwork
Hands-on
Outdoors
Quick wins
$50Costs more to start than 61% of hobbies
NothingAll of the cost is upfront
$50About $0.48 an hour at 2 hours a week
Before you buy
Rent or borrow gear at the facility for your first few sessions, before you buy anything.
Your first session
Join a guided bat walk at dusk with a borrowed detector and listen for the clicks as the bats hunt.
1.5 hours or moreOut and aboutEasy to start
Questions
How much does wildlife watching cost to start?
About $50 if you rent or borrow where people usually do, and nothing each month after that.
How much time does wildlife watching take?
About 2 hours a week to enjoy it and get better, in sessions of 1.5 hours or more.
Where do people do wildlife watching?
Anywhere outside, like a park, a trail or a street.
Is wildlife watching good for beginners?
Yes. It is easy to start as a complete beginner. A good first session: Join a guided bat walk at dusk with a borrowed detector and listen for the clicks as the bats hunt.
Do I need other people for wildlife watching?
No. It works fine on your own.