Did you ever wish that you had your finger on the pulse of hip, young America? Remember when suddenly everything was chipotle-flavoured a few years ago and you had no idea what that meant? Do you have trouble distinguishing between the passé and ironic revivals of the passé? Well Painfully Suburban's new feature, Resident Tastemaker, is here to help you appropriate the trends before they're even trends at all. Resident Tastemaker will lay it on the line, predicting what's up and coming in the world of culture.

Today's installment: Birdwatching. The perfect warm-up activity to precede a rousing crossword puzzle or game of lawn darts, birdwatching not only showcases one's ability to stay cool under intense pressure, but also provides a platform for spirited conversation between all participants:

"By Jove, feast your eyes upon that resplendent red-winged blackbird perched atop that flophouse across the street!"

"Regrettably, I do believe you are incorrect. As any child could tell you, that's so raven."

"Ah, I see your point, perhaps it is not a blackbird after all, though I must disagree and proclaim that it is not, in fact, so raven. It appears to be an exotic piping plover, far astray from its usual migratory route."

"Regardless, now that we are feeling competitive, let us take out our agression on the squash court."

As birdwatching's popularity increases, look for hipsters to create "nesting colonies" with the goal of attracting rare tropical and subtropical birds to an edgy urban setting. Although the nesting colonies will likely have limited success with parrots, cockatoos, and the like, native species such as pigeons and Canada geese will greatly appreciate the fine new accommodations and make themselves at home. Trendsetters being what they are, expect these previously-unappreciated native birds to be welcomed enthusiastically, with their images emblazoned on everything from t-shirts to home furnishings. A programme on NPR with live reports from birdwatching outposts in several cities will soon follow.