Birding

Demotivational Posters for Birds (II)

October 23, 2025 by Kai Pflug 1 Comment

We were honestly surprised by the success of our first set of demotivational posters for birds. It has now become clearer to us that not all birds are born to soar. Some brood. Some stare at the sky and wonder whether flying ever was a good idea.

Perhaps it is the never-ending migration. The constant competition for partners and nesting sites. Or the crushing realization that most of life is spent searching for scarce food. Whatever the reason, defeatism seems more common than we imagined.

We have decided not to interfere. Nature seems to be managing low morale just fine. Some birds cope. Some don’t bother.

For the tired, the distracted, and those who have simply stopped trying, here are four more demotivational posters. Each one a quiet reminder that enthusiasm is overrated.

Written by Kai Pflug
Kai has lived in Shanghai for more than 21 years. He only started birding after moving to China, so he is far more familiar with Chinese birds than the ones back in his native Germany. As a birder, he considers himself strictly average and tries to make up for it with photography, which he shares on a separate website. Alas, most of the photos are pretty average as well. He hopes that few clients of his consulting firm—focused on China’s chemical industry—ever find this blog, as it might raise questions about his professional priorities. Much of his time is spent either editing posts for 10,000 Birds or cleaning the litter boxes of his numerous indoor cats. He occasionally considers writing a piece comparing the two activities.