Yes, birdwatching. In San Francisco. And before you roll your eyes, hear us out — because this city is quietly one of the best urban birding spots on the West Coast, and you don't need anyone's permission to enjoy it.

The headliners, of course, are the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill — a flock of cherry-headed conures that have called the city home since at least the 1990s, made famous by the 2003 documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. They're loud, they're green and red, and they move around. Your best bet is early morning around the Embarcadero, Telegraph Hill, and the Ferry Building area. They roost in cypress trees and are easier to hear before you see them — listen for what sounds like a very opinionated cocktail party in the treetops.

But the parrots are just the opening act. Golden Gate Park is a birding paradise, home to great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, and various owls. Lake Merced draws pelicans and grebes. The coastline around Lands End and Crissy Field hosts shorebirds, cormorants, and the occasional peregrine falcon — the fastest animal on the planet, just casually hanging out by the Golden Gate Bridge.

Here's what we love about birding as an urban pastime: it costs nothing, requires no reservation system, no permit from Rec & Park, no app, and no one can hoard a bird the way people hoard public tennis courts. The birds don't care about your income bracket or your political affiliations. They're the most egalitarian amenity this city has.

So if you're looking for something to do on a Saturday morning that doesn't involve a $7 cortado or fighting for space at a public facility someone's decided belongs to them, grab a pair of binoculars and head outside. The parrots are waiting — and unlike City Hall, they actually show up.