Recently I was in my car stopped at a red light when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Perched on a sign, maybe 2 feet away, was a Red-tailed Hawk! The large bird was nonchalantly grooming itself, oblivious to the traffic on a busy Saturday morning. I was mesmerized by this up-close and personal sighting. Until the light turned green, my focus was completely on the hawk.
As synchronicity would have it, later that day I saw an article touting the mental health benefits of bird watching, citing several research studies. One study found that merely seeing and/or hearing birds is linked to higher levels of happiness, and improves mental well-being for several hours. Even better, you don’t need to be an expert birder to experience the mental health bennies of paying attention. Focusing on birds – their behaviors, their songs, their movements – brings us into the present moment. This simple form of mindfulness calms anxiety, alleviates stress, and can help lift mild depression.
Below are some suggestions for easy ways to connect with our feathered friends.
Take A Gander Outside
Bird watch where you are!
No need to head deep into the woods or buy fancy equipment. Just look out your window or step outside the door.
Start small!
Even just a few minutes of paying attention to the sounds and sights around you can be calming and enriching.
Look and listen!
Whether you’re in your backyard, at a local park or strolling around the neighborhood, you only need to pay attention.
Don’t know much about birds?
No biggie as you’ll still reap the benefits. Focusing on nature engages different areas of the brain, shifting the focus away from thoughts churning in your mind.
Curious? Check out some bird apps!
It’s interesting and fun to know who’s out there. I recently downloaded Cornell Lab’s Merlin Bird ID, a free app that can identify birds by their sounds. Warning: it’s totally addictive! 😉
I was in the kitchen when I saw this male Baltimore Oriole on the suet feeder. I grabbed my iPhone and although I’m not a skilled photographer, I got lucky and caught him just as he flew away. I couldn’t have snapped this action packed photo if I had tried!
“The sound of birds stops the noise in my mind.”
— Carly Simon
