Do you feel relaxed while listening to birds sing from your front porch? Birds and birdsongs have a tremendous impact on human health.
Birdwatching is no longer a pastime strictly reserved for birding enthusiasts. It's an activity anyone can participate in to improve their mental well-being. Here is what the science says about birdsongs and how to surround yourself with more birds for your health.
Key Considerations
- Listen to Birdsongs: Incorporate birdsongs into your daily routine to reduce anxiety and improve mental well-being.
- Start Birdwatching: Engage in birdwatching, a simple and accessible way to connect with nature and enhance your mental health.
- Use Bird Identification Apps: Download apps or use AI tools to easily identify birds and deepen your connection with the natural world.
- Create a Bird-Friendly Habitat: Attract more birds to your yard by adding feeders, native plants, and birdbaths, creating a soothing environment for mental well-being.
- Spend Time in Nature: Aim for at least 120 minutes a week in natural environments, using birdsongs as a natural boost for your mental health.
Do Birds Improve Your Mental Well-Being?
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the United Kingdom has over 1.3 million members, while 70 million Americans are interested in birdwatching activities. These numbers underscore the world's intrigue in avian species and spending time in nature.
Wildlife encounters provide multisensory opportunities for people. When it comes to birds, the benefits usually stem from visual and auditory characteristics.
Various studies suggest birds and birdsongs positively affect mental health. According to one analysis, living in an area with 10% higher avian diversity rates increases life satisfaction 1.53 times more than a higher salary.
Anxiety and depression symptoms significantly decrease when listening to birdsongs. In severe cases, birds reduce paranoia by diverting one's attention away from triggers and threats.
Overall, researchers have determined just 120 minutes in natural environments weekly is ideal for your mental well-being. Listening to birdsongs is simply an extra dose of nature-based medicine.
The Art of Deciphering Bird Calls
Identifying birds allows you to better connect with the natural world. Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) developments have made deciphering birdsongs easier than ever. For example, AI uses sensory tools to capture sound and imagery and process the data in a database. Smartphone users can then access the information in mobile applications.
The Audubon Bird Guide is one example of a birdsong identification app, with over 800 hours of bird sounds and 3,000 images for over 800 North American avian species. Citizen scientists — such as Seán Ronayne, who has collected 10,000 bird recordings in Ireland — also assist in creating these digital indexes.
Reading regional field guides lets you learn about the most common species near you and their sounds. Listen for distinct characteristics, such as the pitch, chirping speed and pattern. In addition to digital resources and identification apps, you can acquaint yourself with birdsongs from experienced birders in birdwatching groups.
The first step toward boosting your health through birdsong is to increase bird diversity at home with a safe and comfortable habitat. Here are a few ways to attract avian species to your backyard:
● Install several bird feeders with varying seeds for different species — 75% of seeds in feeders should be black sunflower seeds to entice the most birds.
● Add colorful flowers — goldfinches and warblers like yellow, blue jays prefer blue and hummingbirds like pink.
● Fill your garden with native plants and fruit trees for food and habitat.
● Plant bushes and trees for birds to create nests — you can also install nesting boxes and birdhouses.
● Add a birdbath as a water source and bathing station, especially in a hotter climate.
● Avoid all synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers to protect birds from chemical harm.
Birds should appear quickly, within one or two days. However, the more elements you include, the better for drawing the attention of various species.
Reap the Mental Health Benefits of Birdsongs
A dose of birdsong doesn't require a trip to the doctor's office for a prescription. It's something you get by surrounding yourself with birds. If your mental health could use a boost, take a step outside and listen to your feathered friends.
Images: Adriaan Buys
