Birdwatching: Hummingbirds and Mental Health
When Spring comes along, and the leaves of many trees begin to emerge. Immediately I am overjoyed because my hummer friends will visit my backyard. This year marks the fourth Spring of placing feeders filled with sweet nectar for migrating hummingbirds. From Spring time to early Fall, I love to sit outside and watch them with great joy. One may wonder if I am seeing hummingbirds for the very first time, because often I am gazing at the hummingbirds in astonishment. In those moments, I am greatful to have these amazing birds in my yard year after year. I appreciate their presence, not contemplating how many flowers they have visited or how many times they beat their wings.
I found that caring for the hummingbirds while they are in my backyard to be therapeutic. Little did I know at that time, that birdwatching is beneficial to mental health. A study published in Scientific Reports found that seeing or hearing birds improved mental well being for up to eight hours. In the study about 1,300 participants used their cellphones to log when they see or hear a bird. Many persons in this particular study, with and without mental health conditions noticed improvements in their moods during the encounters with the birds. There are also numerous other studies with findings in support of bird watching as a coping skill for mood improvement and mental health.
Now that you have read about my therapeutic experiences with hummingbirds, and how birdwatching has been linked to improved the moods, I would like to know:
1. If you have bird watched before, what was the experience like for you?
2. If you have not, would you be intersted in bird watching. Where can you bird watch in your neighborhood?
3. If you are not interested in birdwatching, which coping skills do you use daily?
4. What do you know about hummingbirds?
Fascinating Facts about Hummingbirds
✔︎Their heart is the largest relative to all other animals.
✔︎Their metabolism is 100 times that of an elephant.
✔︎They can enter a state of inactivity called torpor; the birds reduce their body temperature to conserve energy.
✔︎The iridescence of hummingbird feathers is a result of prism-like microstructures that fragment light into components of the spectrum, by a process of absorption and angle of light.
Source: "Smart-phone based ecological momentary assessment reveals mental health benefits of birdlife", Hammoud, Ryan et, al, Nature.com
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