The bizarre reason watching birds can make you happier than money

You know the feeling of spotting a brightly colored robin or blue jay perched outside your window; a fleeting moment that offers a feeling of joyful glee and curiosity akin to being a kid.

While most of us assume we’re unique in feeling that moment of joyfulness, interestingly enough, that “feel good” emotion is actually thought to be universal.

A new study suggests that bird watching can actually make people happier than receiving a windfall of money.

Your happiness correlates with your proximity to birds

According to the study, which took place at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, an individual’s enjoyment of life directly correlates with the amount of birds in their vicinity.

“Europeans are particularly satisfied with their lives if their immediate surroundings host a high species diversity,” explained lead author Joel Methorst, a doctoral researcher at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, the iDiv, and the Goethe University in Frankfurt.

“According to our findings, the happiest Europeans are those who can experience numerous different bird species in their daily life, or who live in near-natural surroundings that are home to many species.”

We love a good bird watching situation but were curious to find out exactly why taking a minute to watch birds outside our window makes us feel so good. Below, we spoke to some of the leading psychotherapists and psychologists in our network to see exactly why bird watching is considered to be such a healthy practice.

It helps create conversation

It only takes a few minutes of quiet observation in nature to learn that birds come in many different shapes and colors and their calls range from chirps to caws, screeches, and whistles. 

“For me, bird watching and listening is a great way to show children the biodiversity of the planet,” explains Diane Vukovic, Founder of Mom Goes Camping.

“There’s a lot nature can teach us about ourselves as humans. For example, my older daughter finds it particularly funny that male birds are usually the more colorful and decorative of the species and the females are bland looking. It ended up being a great segue into a discussion about gender stereotypes in humans.”

It helps foster mindfulness

People tend to think of mindfulness as a quiet meditation exercise. What people don’t realize is mindfulness can be done in many different ways.

“The point is to be present and focus on what is happening in the here and now and bird watching is a wonderful activity to do mindfully,” explains Allison Gervais, LMFT Psychotherapist in San Francisco.

“A simple way to do this is to silently describe what you see in as much detail as possible. What colors do you see? Textures? Size and shape? Where is the bird perched? Describe it as if you were in a movie. This is mindfulness.”

Being fully present in the moment

Whether you have dozens of thoughts trying to grab your attention at once or you’re struggling to calm down and be fully present, taking a moment to look out at the birds in your neighborhood is an easy way to get those thoughts to calm down.

Gervais suggests thinking about it like this: you can’t have two thoughts at once and if you’re noticing the beautiful feathers on a male Painted Bunting or the sounds of a Lesser Goldfinch, you won’t be thinking of the stress you left behind. 

It helps you connect with nature

“This past winter I purchased a bird feeder which I can see right from my kitchen window. We get a variety of different birds which is amazing to see,” shares Dr. Tara Salay PT, DPT, RYT-200.

“I find that bird watching is such a great way to connect with nature, especially in the colder weather where it’s more difficulty to perform outdoor activities.”

It’s a very grounding practice

According to Dr. Salay, taking the time to bird watch, even just from your window, is an extremely grounding practice to consider working into your routine, whether in the morning or periodically throughout the day when you feel you need a break.

“I love to start my morning by sitting at my kitchen window with my morning coffee or tea and watching the birds interact. It is a very grounding activity and is such a lovely way to start the day,” Dr. Salay explains.

“Connecting with nature with activities such as bird watching is so beneficial for our mental health and overall wellbeing.”

It helps foster new friendships

Birding can be a competitive sport as birders compare how many species are on their “life list” or “year list,” referring to the number of unique species they’ve seen in their life or a single year, respectively, but at its core, it creates community.

“The rise of social media has helped connect avid birders to meet up for bird hikes, share photos of birds, ask questions, get advice, and brag about the birds they’ve seen,” explains Amanda Smith, Superintendent of Natural Resources & Education and resident birder for the Hamilton County Parks & Recreation Department. “It’s also a great way to socialize and meet new people with similar interests.”

Even better, Smith points out, birding is a fun and safe activity during the COVID-19 pandemic since it takes place outdoors and you can easily space out within a group setting.