Prescribed: Birdsong for your Mental-Health

If you’re reading this, it’s likely you already enjoy a personal connection with birdsong from your garden, window or local green spaces. You probably find hearing the chirps, tweets and songbird melodies nurtures a kinship with the natural world, or perhaps offers a much-needed respite from the monotonous whirring of laptops, washing machines or the incessant pinging of your phone. As we all know, the COVID-19 lockdowns saw people across the UK finding solace in the songbird chorus during that challenging time. Have you ever wondered why this is and did you know that the science backs up the overwhelmingly positive impact of birdsong?

Multiple studies have been conducted, looking into the relationship between birdsong and human mental health. Here are four that showcase the positive impact nature can have:

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1. Stress Reduction and Neuroendocrine Response

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) found that listening to birdsong can significantly reduce cortisol levels, a key stress hormone. Their study worked with individuals in both urban and countryside settings, discovering that the exposure to birdsong led to decrease in physiological stress indicators. Safe time in nature has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function alongside lessening stress hormones.

2. Positive Impact on Mood and Cognitive Performance

Published in the journal ‘Environment and Behaviour’, a study investigated the effect of natural sounds, including birdsong, on our moods and cognitive function. They found exposure to these sounds resulted in an increase in positive emotions, ranging from aesthetic enjoyment, improved cognitive function and a significant decrease of negative affect.

3. Biophilic Connection and Mental Well-Being

Biophilia, according to the theory of E.O. Wilson, the biologist denotes the innate affinity between human beings and the natural world. A study, by the University of California, found that people living in areas with higher bird biodiversity experienced enhanced mental well-being. Both the presence of vegetation and afternoon bird abundances were synonymous with a lower rate of depression, anxiety and stress.  

4. Attention Restoration and Cognitive Recovery

The Attention Restoration Theory (ART) argues that people can concentrate better after spending time in nature. The digital daily grind many of us are subject to wears down our cognitive function and attention span, demanding too much intense attention for long periods of time – we see the detrimental impacts of this in our children and ourselves. Being in natural spaces, where humans have evolved from after all, enables us to disconnect that intense and draining focus and instead embrace being grounded and present, an ‘open-eyed meditation’ as Natural Lands put it. Much work has been done to show the benefits of ART for focus and recovery, as well as creative practice.  

As someone who grew up in the countryside, but moved away to the capital city for several years, I massively noticed the impact of being around less wildlife. That’s not to say there’s no wildlife in the city – there are sparrows peeping from behind the eaves, hedgehogs, foxes and lovely open park spaces. But it was never the same as roaming through overgrown footpaths through rolling green fields, seemingly miles away from any other human, car or house. Since moving back to the countryside and living tucked away in the middle of nowhere, I’ve found an almost instantaneous peace that comes with just sitting by trees, breathing fresh air and listening to birdsong. The repetitive chiff-chaff, or chattering sparrows, the piping majesty of the song thrush over the familiar robin and blackbird song marks the beginning and end of a busy working day, grounding me in the present moment. This daily process of grounding enables me to decompress, but somehow always leads to creative expression. Whether it is writing about the nature around me, painting something I’ve seen, or thinking about human-beings’ relationship to the planet, I have always felt an indescribable, immensely important power from simply being, and allowing my senses to take in nature.  

It is so important that the next generations get to forge their own relationships with nature, the trees and birdsong; that they learn to value it, for its own sake and for their own wellbeing. I worry when I learn that 25% of children can’t identify the symbolic robin – we must endeavour to educate and inspire children through nature, and the world around them. This is why SongBird Survival’s commitment to education is so important. Find out more about our education work and our Ruby Robin award here.

Read more about the topic of nature and how it improves your wellbeing here and here.

The SBS Team

If you are a scientist and would like to shine a light on your recent research covering songbirds here in the UK, then let us know! As a supporter of our charity, if you have ideas for blog posts you would like to see and topics you would like us to cover on #theSBSblog, please contact us at dawn-chorus@songbird-survival.org.uk or our Research and Engagement Manager at charlotte@songbird-survival.org.uk. 

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