Do you enjoy hearing or watching birds? Which birds do you notice in your area? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
“When my mind was filled with trouble/and my heart is filled up with pain/and I’m blinded by my own darkness/cannot see the light of day/oh, I sit alone and watch the birds…”—Watch the Birds, Lonette McKee
To me, Lonette McKee’s lovely 1992 song “Watch the Birds” suggests that when you’re feeling down or overwhelmed by life, you should take a moment to yourself and do something rejuvenating, like watching and listening to birds. McGee was onto something.
Being in nature is excellent for relieving depression, stress, and anxiety. Studies show that those who enjoy birding (also known as bird watching) reap certain health benefits greater than those afforded by hiking, nature walks, and forest bathing. According to a North Carolina State University study birding was more effective at improving mental health and reducing stress than a nature walk. Simply listening to birdsong can lift your mood.
Related: Join AARP for a virtual birding experience, Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET • 4:00 p.m. CT • 3:00 p.m. MT • 2:00 p.m. PT.
Hearing birds improved mental well-being for up to eight hours. A more recent study reported in Ecological Economics found a correlation between happiness and the number of birds around residential areas. An abundance of birds in urban neighborhoods is associated with a lower prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Interest in birding rose during the pandemic, and more Black women are becoming interested in the activity. Jen Reid, film producer and founder of Warrior Dreamzz LLC and a co-organizer of this year’s The Black AF In STEM Collective’s annual Black Birders Week, has vivid memories of her “spark bird.” It was the Blue Jay, which was the subject of her first book report as a 4th grader, using The World Book Encyclopedia for source material and tracing the image of the bird.
“It was a simple start, but it opened my eyes to the diverse variety of birds in my urban community,” she recalls. “I started taking photos of birds and being intentional about how I communed with nature during the pandemic and as a part of my daily meditations, as a way to stay present and focused during lockdown.”
Previously, Reid looked into birder groups, but they didn’t seem to be a fit. “When I looked at some of the larger societies, they didn't seem to be in my same demographic: age, race, or gender. All those factors mattered. In 2023, BlackAFinSTEM offered the opportunity for individuals to register to participate in the planning committee for Black Birders Week. That invitation opened up my connections to Black and BIPOC birding communities internationally.”
Grab some binoculars or some birdseed! Getting started is so easy.
Whether you’re interested in birding (considered a sport) or bird watching (considered a more casual hobby), visit the websites of the Audubon Society, local environmental centers, the National Park Service, and community park and recreation departments for suggestions on how to begin.
Invest in an inexpensive pair of binoculars and if you plan to photograph the birds, a camera with a good zoom lens.
Download birding apps like eBird (which allows you to record and share bird sightings and locations) and Merlin Bird ID (which identifies birds by sight or sound).
Reid also suggests visiting the BlackAFinSTEM website, which offers “a wealth of information, including resources and ways to get involved.”
But you don’t have to join a formal organization or group. Simply visit a park or stroll through your neighborhood in the early morning to listen to birdsong. Even backyard birding can improve mental health. You can use a birdfeeder or grow native plants that attract birds.
“Birding is very spiritual,” says Reid. “I have used birding and nature practices in my work as a Recreation Therapist and Creative Arts Therapist, leading persons in recovery on nature bathing meditative walks where we engage in mindful birding. The experience isn't to identify as many birds as possible but rather to slow down and be present in the moment; to feel our natural connection to birds and explore the existing parallels between ourselves, birds, and other wild beings.”
Do you enjoy hearing or watching birds? Which birds do you notice in your area? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
