Watching our wonderful feathered friends makes you happy. But don’t just take my word for it. This is the conclusion drawn by researchers at the University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Queensland after quizzing more than 270 people about their mental health. Being able to see birds, shrubs and trees made them less likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and stress, the survey suggests.
The study didn’t find a link between the type of bird and the level of associated mental health benefits – though common types of birds such as robins, blue tits (like the chubby ball of gorgeousness pictured above) and blackbirds were all mentioned. But it did find a relationship between improved mental health and the number of birds those involved in the survey could see from their windows, in their gardens and in their neighbourhoods (by which I assume they mean the more birds you see in your environment, the happier you feel).
“This study starts to unpick the role that some key components of nature play for our mental wellbeing,” says Exeter University’s Dr Daniel Cox, who led the study. “Birds around the home, and nature in general, show great promise in preventative health care, making cities healthier, happier places to live.”
I reckon it’s time to bring on some serious birdwatching. Don’t you?