Demotivational Posters for Birds

Demotivational Posters for Birds (XIII)

January 8, 2026 by Kai Pflug No Comments

Following the group therapy session introduced in our previous instalment, we asked a few participants how they were feeling. The responses were, as always, cautiously unenthusiastic.

Little Egret: “I tried mindfulness. Then I realised standing still for hours was already that.”

Barn Swallow: “We discussed work–life balance. I don’t have either.”

Common Cuckoo: “Apparently, my attachment style is ‘outsourcing.’”

European Robin: “They told me to set boundaries. I said I already have a territory. No one laughed.”

Grey Heron: “The group said I should express my emotions more. I stood there quietly for three hours. They seemed satisfied.”

And so, having documented the modest progress, the occasional insight, and the near-universal sighing, we present these case notes along with four more posters for the benefit of the cautious, the contemplative, and the comfortably unmotivated. Birds everywhere may not leap for joy, but they might nod in weary recognition. In a world obsessed with improvement, sometimes simply surviving a therapy session is achievement enough.

Written by Kai Pflug
Kai has lived in Shanghai for 22 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.