ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Bird watching has been gaining popularity across the country, including here in New Mexico, but the people picking up the binoculars are getting younger. "Historically, pre-covid, the majority of people who engaged in bird watching and wildlife watching were usually retirees, predominately white. That type of crowd. And we've really seen a shift. There's been twice as many people under the age of 30, and especially teens. There's a lot of teens getting into birding," Director of Community Education, Audubon Southwest, Katie Weeks said. Story continues below Investigation: DWI cases Albuquerque officers and paralegal made disappear Crime: Santa Fe Police identify man who was killed in hit-and-run Don't Miss: Rio Rancho to review plans to redevelop old country club golf course The Audubon Society says that the lockdowns got people looking out their windows more and getting them curious about their local wildlife. Youth-targeted events has also brought out new bird watchers, as well as the latest in bird-watching tech. "The function that exists uses the microphone on your phone. You hold it up and it records the sound that it's detecting and based on the larger data set, like what birds are probably in your area, it can narrow it down and give you some options," Weeks said. The Randal Davie Audubon Center in Santa Fe is hosting free weekly bird walks every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. For more information on those bird walks, click here. The Bird Alliance of Central New Mexico offers weekly and monthly bird watching events. For more information on those events, click here. ...read more read less