I only began bird photography when I needed something to point a new telephoto lens at.  Didn't much care about the birds; never had found them interesting. That all changed when I was able to see them up close and realized the incredible hunters and fliers they are.  Wild mammals are much harder to find here in San Diego, but I get an occasional trip to Oregon where I've found a few.  And when I get desperate, there's the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Safari Park (though that seems like cheating.)