Birdsong helps mental wellbeing say nine out of ten people

Watching birds and listening to bird song benefits people's wellbeing, a study shows

Watching birds and hearing birdsong has a positive impact on wellbeing. So say more than nine out of 10 people who state they feel calmer, relaxed, and more positive after listening to bird song or watching birds - whether in the garden, park or in a more open landscapes, according to a survey for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

In fact, 88% of UK adults say spending time outdoors enjoying the natural world is important to them. Some 53% say it is very important, and 91% agree that seeing and hearing birds has a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

Dr Amir Khan, the president of the RSPB, GP, and TV doctor, said: “Working as a GP, I know just how important accessing green spaces is for our physical and mental wellbeing. Watching the blue tits and bullfinches enjoying the feeders in my garden is a constant source of comfort for me, and being on the frontline of the NHS I am very aware that comfort is something we all need now more than ever.”

The RSPB has also found that two thirds of those in the UK found solace in watching birds and hearing their song during the Covid pandemic lockdown. During that time, the public became more aware of nature in their local area, said the RSPB, with 41% seeing wildlife near their homes that they had never noticed before.

Being closer to nature - hearing bird song and watching birds (and identifying them if you enjoy that too) helps us be present. It helps clear our minds, concentrate on what is in front of us. It helps us notice the beauty of nature.

In 2020 Scientists at the University of Surrey studied the 'restorative benefits of birdsong', testing if it really does improve our mood. They discovered that, of all the natural sounds that were investigated, birdsong and calls were those most often cited in helping people recover from stress, allowing them to restore a sense of peace and refocus their attention. Dr Eleanor Ratcliffe, a lecturer in environmental psychology who led the study, said, 'People like listening to bird sounds which are quiet, high frequency or have a level of complexity such as a melody.'

And when it comes to writing, when we stop, look and listen, we become far more aware of our surroundings. By being steeped in that moment, we also learn to find ways to describe what we see and hear.

If we are using our outdoor time as writing time, we can jot down what's around us, what we see, hear and smell - write it as sentences, or random words, a paragraph or a description to add to some writing we are working on.