Bird watching for mental health
Watching birds from your window can lower stress and relieve depression or anxiety according to a recent article in BioScience.
Researchers in the UK say that doses of nature, such as having a bird feeder and seeing birds in the garden, can provide significant mental health benefits. The findings were established by a team of researchers from the University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Queensland.
The research that the University of Exeter carried out proved that watching birds near your home is good for your mental health, they found that people living in neighbourhoods with more birds, shrubs and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress.
The benefits of having a bird feeder in your garden
- Keeps your mind calm, active and entertained. Something we so often expect devices to do for us.
- Watching birds visit your garden can be a form of meditation, having a positive impact on mental health.
- Having a bird feeder and needing to refill it gives a sense of purpose and increases your exposure to nature which is healing.
- Filling up or simply getting to a better place in the garden to watch the birds increases movement throughout day which helps to release endorphins.
- Creates the opportunity for moments of awe which research shows makes us happier, healthier and more humble.
We believe that having a bird feeder will increase your exposure to nature and wildlife and can relieve stress & anxiety.