I found out late last year that there is a small community (20 or so maybe) local to me who meet once a month for a wee tournament. I haven't mustered up the nerve to go but they stream it on Twitch and I've watched small snippets. Anyway, I'm certain there's not a Birdie main there and I've been tempted to go represent.
Do it! Speaking from experience, the best way to improve as a player is to attend locals and get advice from other players in-person. Oftentimes we develop bad habits imperceptible to us that hold us back, and having other people who can identify those habits for you is invaluable.
Birdie is definitely a strong character. Only thing he is missing is invincible reversal without v-trigger but I think it is okay that he doesn't have that.
Yeah, he doesn't really need an invincible reversal. He's got EX Killing Head to discourage throw loops and a pretty decent "get off me" V-Reversal, so he doesn't crumble to pressure in the same way as most grapplers.
Good Birdies are rare, but boy are they dangerous.
It's true! One of the dudes at my locals plays Birdie and he always cleans up because his spacing and neutral game are godlike. That character's incredibly strong in the right hands, and even moreso because so few have experience with the matchup.