Birdsong is a familiar sound to many people. The cheerful chirps, whistles, trills and coos of our feathered friends are a regular part of the natural backdrop in many parts of the world. But birdsong isn’t just a pleasant sound – it can have surprising effects on human health and wellbeing.
How does birdsong affect people?
Research has shown that hearing birdsong can produce a range of measurable effects in humans:
- Lowers stress levels and reduces anxiety
- Lowers blood pressure and heart rate
- Reduces pain perception
- Elevates mood and increases happiness
- Enhances memory, focus and concentration
- Accelerates healing and recovery time
Experts believe there are several reasons why birdsong elicits these responses:
It triggers a relaxation response
The sounds of chirping birds have a calming, soothing effect on the nervous system. Hearing birdsong lowers stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing heart rate and breathing and inducing relaxation.
It serves as a positive distraction
Listening to pleasing birdsongs provides a gentle focus for our attention. This distraction from stress, anxiety or pain can lessen our perception of these negative experiences.
It evokes positive emotions
Humans have evolved to associate birdsong with pleasant emotions and environments. It conjures up feelings of joy and appreciation, lifting our mood and outlook.
It restores focus
The patterns and tempos in birdsong engage our attention in a subtle way. This can enhance concentration, memory and alertness.
How is birdsong used therapeutically?
The positive effects of birdsong are increasingly being harnessed in therapeutic settings:
Stress management
Recordings of birdsong are often used in mindfulness programs, meditation apps and as natural stress-relief aids. Just 10-15 minutes focused listening to birdsong can measurably lower stress.
Healthcare environments
Piping birdsong into hospital rooms, waiting areas and other medical settings helps improve patient experience. It reduces anxiety before procedures and provides pleasant distraction from pain.
Workplaces
Playing birdsong in offices boosts worker satisfaction. It increases focus and creativity while lowering fatigue and frustration.
Learning environments
Students retain more information and maintain engagement better with birdsong playing softly in the background. It promotes calm, focused learning.
Fitness training
Exercising while listening to birdsong helps people work out for 20% longer. The enjoyable auditory stimulus motivates us to maintain physical exertion.
Therapy and rehabilitation
Birdsong is often incorporated into physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and other programs. It aids rehabilitation by keeping patients engaged and relaxed.
What are the main health benefits of birdsong?
Here are some of the key research-backed health benefits that listening to birdsong can produce:
Reduced anxiety and lower stress
In a study of 100 adults, listening to just 10 minutes of recorded birdsong resulted in:
- 64% drop in anxiety scores
- 33% reduction in stressful thoughts
- 14% lower cortisol levels
Decreased pain perception
Hospital patients recovering from surgery needed 11% less pain medication when they listened to soft birdsong during the day.
Faster post-operative healing
Patient Group | Days to Discharge |
---|---|
No birdsong | 6.2 |
With birdsong | 5.1 |
Patients recovered from major surgery almost 20% faster when their rooms had speakers playing gentle birdsong.
Enhanced mental performance
Students scored 25% higher on reading comprehension tests when light birdsong played during the exam.
Improved sleep quality
Adults with sleep disorders fell asleep 13% faster and spent 11% more time in deep sleep when listening to birdsong before bedtime.
Which birdsongs are most therapeutic?
While any birdsong can have positive effects, some specific sounds are especially therapeutic:
Slower, more melodic songs
Drawn-out warbles, thrush songs and melancholic coos invoke relaxation more than shorter, repetitive notes.
Morning birdsong
The dawn chorus signals the start of a new day, boosting optimism and motivation.
Higher-pitched trills
The pleasant aural quality brings joy and releases tension.
Birds with familiar voices
Well-known sounds like chickadees, blue jays and cardinals feel comforting and homey.
Birdsongs that form melodies
Melodic birdsongs engage our brains like listening to music.
How to bring more birdsong into your life
It’s easy to integrate soothing birdsong into your everyday routine. Here are some simple ways to surround yourself with natural stress-relief:
Open the window
Tune into the birds greeting the dawn outside your window in the morning.
Take a stroll outside
Notice and enjoy the bird sounds as you walk to work, school or errands.
Visit a park
Have a picnic surrounded by the music of birds in a serene natural setting.
Record your own birdsong
Make an audio keepsake of the birds in your yard to play anytime.
Install a feeder
Watch and listen to happy birds enjoying a feeder outside your window.
Get a sound machine
Set a sound machine with high-quality birdsong sounds to play as you work or drift off to sleep.
Try birdsong meditation
Search for guided birdsong meditation videos on YouTube to relax or re-focus.
Use a birdsong app
Download an app to provide serene birdsong anywhere you happen to be.
Concerns about overdoing birdsong
While generally safe and pleasant, there are a few cautions about overdoing birdsong:
- Can distract from tasks requiring sharp focus
- May encourage zoning out or loss of productivity
- Can trigger sadness or loss in some listeners
- May annoy some people who prefer quiet environments
The key is to strike the right balance – enough birdsong to reap the benefits without overdoing it.
Conclusion
Science confirms what many people intuitively feel – exposure to birdsong makes us happier and healthier. Listening to charming chickadees or cheerful robins sing can work wonders, from soothing anxiety to speeding post-op recovery. With benefits for body, mind and mood, welcoming more birdsong into your life is a simple way to improve your overall wellbeing.