I got into birding late last year after I decided to start feeding the crows in my neighborhood. It started with feeding them peanuts. Then it turned into taking pictures of them when then visited. Soon enough, I was naming them and really studying their behavior. I wanted to see more birds, so I bought a bird feeder.
I started applying my other hobbies to bird watching and that is where things really took off. (Pun intended).
I designed and 3d printed a quarter pipe that fits on my bird feeder. I bolted a tech deck to the top and I have taken a lot of photos of birds that look like they are about to drop in on the quarter pipe.
As if that wasn't enough, I draw the photos that I take and turn them into embroidered iron-on patches to leave on the pin board at my local coffee shop for strangers to take.
Birding forces me to slow down and pay attention. I find it relaxing and it is the polar opposite of my normal day to day. It also gives me a way share my excitment with others. If anything I have done results in someone deciding to feed a crow some peanuts, then its all worth it.
My parents maintained a bird feeder in our back yard when I was a kid. It was very enjoyable watching them, and you get to know individual birds over time.
As for going out looking for specific species with binoculars and all that....I don't know much about it, and try to stay neutral. It looks silly to an outsider, but a lot of worthwhile hobbies do.
I do this too. It was surprising to me that I started recognizing them so quickly.
They all get names now. This year I have a whole family of finches that I call the Murphy’s but tbh they act more like BeBe’s kids, just show up throwing seed everywhere and acting like they ain’t got no sense.