Serious question: do bird photographers really like birds that much, or are birds just a good thing to use big fancy lenses on?

Dear bird photographers,

I promise I'm not talking down on your genre. Shoot what you like! I love all the birds in my back yard and can watch them at length. Gambel's quails are my favorite. But I don't spend much time photographing them. I use my long lenses on cars.

If you shoot birds, is it because you like birds, because you like long lenses, or both?