Birdsong is synonymous with a sense of calm.
But you should pay closer attention to birdsong if you want to maximise the stress-busting benefits of your walk, according to research from the German University of Tübingen.
To put these findings to the test, I joined ‘The Early Birders’ – a social birdwatching group that meets every Friday morning at 8am at Pen Ponds car park in Richmond Park.
Rebecca – an Early Birders group member – said it was exhilarating to find rare birds in the park.
She acknowledged birdwatching can be meditative – but said it is thrilling to spot a rare bird.
After discussing the research with the group, one of the leaders, Roy, said: “It gives you a lift to go birdwatching.”
Fellow group member Claire compared birdsong to music and said: “It almost takes you into a different world.”
Many group members were unsurprised to hear that the stress-busting benefits of a walk could be maximised if you pay closer attention to birdsong.
The interesting part of the research is not the benefits of birdsong, but how an improved knowledge of birdsong seemed to maximise the stress-busting benefits derived.
While birdsong was shown to be beneficial overall, the more knowledge possessed about birdsong, the greater the benefits.
I spoke to several of the group members in more depth to understand what they make of the research and how they feel when they are birdwatching.
Featured image credit: Elsa Nightingale
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