Birds have long been appreciated for their beauty, songs, ability to fly, and playful nature. More recently, research has shown that interacting with birds can also have therapeutic benefits for humans. Birds can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, enhance emotional well-being, and even improve some medical conditions. Here’s an in-depth look at the many therapeutic powers of our feathered friends.
Birds Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Multiple studies have shown that exposure to birds, whether watching them or interacting with them, can reduce physiological and psychological signs of stress in humans. For example, research conducted at retirement communities, hospitals, and colleges found that simply viewing aviaries with finches, parakeets, and canaries lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels among observers. Other studies where participants actively interacted with birds, like handling and feeding parrots, yielded similar stress-reducing, calming effects.
Why are birds so soothing? Experts theorize there are several reasons:
- Watching birds promotes mindfulness and getting into the present moment, distracting from worries.
- Hearing bird songs activates our parasympathetic nervous system, signaling our bodies to relax.
- Interacting with birds satisfies our innate need for connection with nature and wildlife.
- Birds represent freedom, beauty, and peace in nature.
So if you’re feeling stressed or anxious, try sitting outside listening to birdsong, watching birds fly by, or interacting with an avian companion. It’s likely to calm both your mind and body.
Birds Lift Mood and Ease Depression
In addition to lowering stress, research indicates that exposure to and interaction with birds can also boost people’s mood, alleviate depression, and enhance overall emotional well-being. For example, studies of bird ownership show that people who have pet birds in their homes report less depression, loneliness, and anxiety than non-bird owners.
Having an avian companion provides some mood-lifting benefits:
- Caring for a bird gives a sense of purpose and buffers against loneliness.
- Watching amusing bird behaviors elicits laughter and lightens one’s mood.
- Listening to beautiful bird vocalizations creates a calming ambience.
- Stroking soft feathers and making other tactile contact is soothing.
Even observing wild birds through a window can improve mood and reduce depression. Researchers found that assisted living residents who had bird feeders placed outside their windows showed significant declines in depression compared to residents without feeders. The additional visual motion, sound, and life that birds provide can work wonders for emotional health.
Birds May Ease Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Interaction with birds may provide some neurological benefits as well. Studies indicate that having avian companions can reduce the agitation, anxiety, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms that often accompany Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. For example, one study found that dementia patients experienced a significant drop in noisy vocalizations and other disruptive behaviors during sessions where they handled and interacted with budgies and finches.
Why are birds so neurologically soothing? Researchers hypothesize it may be a combination of factors:
- The visual beauty, colors, and movements of birds capture attention and provide sensory stimulation.
- Listening to birdsong and bird calls provides auditory enrichment.
- Touching the soft feathers of a bird is soothing tactile input.
- Watching and interacting with birds facilitates social connection.
The multi-sensory experience of birds appears to have a stabilizing effect on dementia patients, reducing agitation and discomfort. Avian therapy shows promise as an alternative treatment to complement other therapies and medications.
Birds Can Ease Pain and Discomfort
Could watching or cuddling with birds actually make you feel physically better? Some research indicates it can. Studies have found that exposure to birds helps reduce pain perception and discomfort associated with certain medical procedures and conditions. Here are some examples:
- Less perceived pain during medical procedures – Patients who watched an aquarium or aviary during a medical procedure reported less pain compared to patients who didn’t watch the nature displays.
- Less pain during blood draws – Children who held and interacted with live birds during a blood draw procedure experienced less pain compared to kids without the birds.
- Less discomfort during cancer treatment – Cancer patients who watched a video of birds during radiation therapy reported less nausea, anxiety, and fatigue than patients who didn’t watch the nature video.
Researchers believe nature and animal interactions activate pain- and anxiety-reducing neural pathways in the brain. Birds in particular seem to have a soothing, analgesic effect. Their bright colors, songs, swinging motions, and soft feathers all engage the senses in a way that shifts focus away from physical discomfort.
Birds Boost Heart Health
A number of studies have shown that exposure to birds has positive effects on heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones like cortisol – all biomarkers of cardiovascular health. For example, research on senior living facilities found that residents randomized to rooms with bird feeders outside their windows showed a greater decline in systolic blood pressure compared to residents whose rooms lacked bird feeders.
Another study looked at the impact of owning a pet parakeet or lovebird over a year’s time. Bird owners were found to have significant reductions in resting blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels compared to non-bird owners. Researchers theorize this may translate to long-term cardiovascular benefits.
The mechanism behind the heart health benefits of birds likely involves the calming effect they have on our nervous systems. By reducing anxiety, dampening our physiological stress responses, and lowering blood pressure, exposure to birds appears to support overall cardiovascular function.
Birds May Boost Mental Performance
Could bird sounds and sights actually make you smarter? Some research indicates they can give your mental performance a boost. For example, office workers who were exposed to natural elements like birdsong, bird videos, and plants scored higher on cognitive tests for memory and attention compared to those lacking nature exposure. Birds may work their mental magic in a few ways:
- Soft birdsong provides calming auditory stimulation that puts the brain in an optimal state for focus.
- Watching flying birds and fluttering leaves engages involuntary attention, giving the directed attention skills a rest.
- Looking at green plants and birds taps into our innate biophilia, providing a sense of connectedness that primes the brain for better function.
So if you need to power through some mentally taxing work, try opening a window or turning on a nature soundtrack with birdsong. The soft tweets and coos in the background just might boost your brainpower and productivity.
Birds May Speed Hospital Recovery
Multiple studies indicate that exposure to nature sights and sounds can improve recovery outcomes in healthcare settings. Specifically, research has found benefits from nature when it comes to:
- Shorter post-operative hospital stays
- Reduced need for pain medications
- Lower scores for patient anxiety, stress, and fatigue
Watching calming nature videos with water features, green plants, and songbirds is particularly beneficial. Looking at aquariums is also helpful. The combination of visually appealing nature scenes and soothing water sounds appears to relax the nervous system and promote healing.
Hospitals and other medical facilities are increasingly installing bird feeders outside windows, live avian exhibits in lobbies, and nature video channels on patient televisions. These simple nature interventions can go a long way towards supporting patient recovery.
Best Bird Species for Therapeutic Benefits
While all birds confer benefits, some types of birds may be particularly therapeutic. Here are some top picks for feathered friends that can boost your health:
Bird | Attributes |
---|---|
Finches | Cheerful chirping, bright colors, enjoyable to watch interact in aviaries |
Parakeets | Soothing chatter, easy to care for as pets, bond readily with humans |
Cockatiels | Affectionate personalities, whistle fun tunes and sounds, soft feathers |
Doves | Peaceful cooing, symbolize love, safe and easy to handle |
Sparrows | Joyful chirping, abundant in most environments, entertaining flock behaviors |
Hummingbirds | Mesmerizing to watch, beautiful iridescent plumage, pleasing wing hum |
Chickadees | Cute chirps and vocalizations, lively acrobatics, intelligent and bold |
Cardinals | Lovely red plumage, enchanting songs, symbolize renewal and hope |
The key when choosing therapeutic birds is to select species that are visually and/or audially pleasing. Opt for birds with calming songs, bright plumage, amusing behaviors, or interactive tendencies. Having an avian companion with a sweet disposition can also maximize the benefits.
Using Birds for Therapy
If you’re interested in leveraging the health benefits of birds, here are some simple ways to incorporate them into your routine:
- Put up bird feeders – Observe wild birds gathering at feeders outside your window.
- Go birdwatching – Head to a nature area to see birds up close in their natural habitat.
- Listen to recorded birdsong – Play recordings of soothing birdsong to relax or focus.
- Get a pet bird – Adopt a friendly parakeet or cockatiel for companionship.
- Install a small aviary – Set-up a finch aviary indoors to destress.
- Visit public aviaries – Check out avian exhibits at zoos, nature centers, and aquariums.
- Use bird videos and photos – Put bird videos on your television or use printed photos.
Try incorporating one of more bird-based therapies into your everyday routine or when you feel the need for relaxation, comfort, or an emotional lift. The research shows their benefits are much more than feather deep!
Additional Questions
Is it safe to handle birds?
Handling birds can be safe if proper precautions are taken. Avoid touching wild birds to prevent injury to them or transmission of parasites and diseases. For pet birds, wash hands before and after, supervise children, read bird body language to avoid bites, and don’t disturb the bird if distressed. With proper care and technique, the therapeutic touch and companionship of birds can be enjoyed safely.
What birds make the best pets?
Some of the best bird species for pets and companions include parakeets, cockatiels, parrotlets, finches, canaries, doves, and chickens for their friendliness, ease of care, and satisfying interactions with humans. Key considerations are a bird’s size, noise level, cost of care, and their need for social interaction. Doing research to choose a bird breed that fits your lifestyle and home is advised.
How should bird feeders and baths be maintained?
Bird feeders and baths should be cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of bacteria and diseases. Feeders should be disinfected with a bleach solution and baths scrubbed with hot, soapy water about once every two weeks. Providing clean food and water is crucial for backyard birds’ health. Location is also key – place feeders and baths in shady spots sheltered from predators.
Conclusion
The evidence is clear: interactions with birds can provide measurable therapeutic effects for humans. From alleviating anxiety, depression, and pain to boosting heart health, mental performance, and recovery, birds have wide-ranging benefits for our minds and bodies through multiple mechanisms. Achieving these gains is as simple as putting up a feeder, adopting a pet bird, or listening to soothing avian vocalizations. Given how low-risk and accessible bird therapies are, there’s little reason not to integrate them into treatment plans or everyday wellness routines.