New Scientist recommends this extreme birdwatching documentary

Timothy Revell
Executive editor, London

“This here would be my older brother Quentin. And last year, he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of early-onset birdwatcher.”

This is Owen, talking in Listers: A glimpse into extreme birdwatching –and it may just be my favourite documentary of the year. It was made by Quentin (pictured), most often appearing on camera, and Owen, most often narrating behind it.

In 2024, the pair set out to spot as many bird species as possble – known by birders as a “big year”. It isn’t clear why they did so, and yet the whole thing never feels like a joke as the pair throw themselves into the culture of competitive birdwatching.

The documentary is often hilarious, but also profound, exploring the relationships we form with nature, competition and tech. It is wonderfully shot and edited, mixing a home-movie style with crisp shots out of the David Attenborough playbook.

Amazingly, Listers is free on YouTube. Whether you’ve caught the bug or not, it’s well worth a watch.