With so much going on outside my office window, I can barely concentrate on work. It is mid-spring here in NE Ohio and, with the trees just starting to leaf out, a great flurry of activity is easily visible and attracting my attention in a big way. So many birds happily swooping, fluttering chirping, and breaking out in song announcing the arrival of nesting season.
This year I am seeing more Baltimore orioles and rose-breasted grosbeaks than ever. Others are reporting the same. The migratory birds are joining our year-round residents. In addition to the mentioned orioles and grosbeaks, there are eastern towhees, gray catbirds, Carolina wrens, eastern blue birds, ruby-throated hummingbirds, eastern phoebes, a variety of warblers (I need to brush up on them) and many more! It is truly a spectacle to behold. As my friend Jennifer excitedly exclaimed, “The birds have been freakin’ amazing. Bird migration is seriously one of the wonders of the world!”
Did you know bird watching is said to be more popular than all the sports combined? What is it about birds that captures and holds our attention and imagination? Is it their ability to fly? Is it their mysterious capacity to migrate amazingly long distances? Clearly, some are majestic, some command respect, some are charming, others are whimsical, and many are downright gorgeous. Regardless, they bring so much excitement, joy, and wonder to our lives through their beauty, behavior, and song. They are certainly gifts wrapped in decorative plumage. Importantly, they are also seed propagators helping to keep ecosystems healthy and productive. And, many birds of prey are essential members of nature’s cleanup crew. For me, life would be dreary and unimaginative without birds.
Scientists at the University of Surrey in the UK have been studying the “restorative benefits of birdsong”, testing whether it really does improve our mood. They discovered that, of all the natural sounds, bird songs and calls were those most often cited as helping people recover from stress and allowing them to restore and refocus their attention. In my case, my attention was restored and refocused ON THEM! They also mentioned that listening to bird song can mediate circadian rhythm. Other research has found that listening to bird song is more relaxing than listening to a meditation app.
In these times of COVID-19, many people are home and likely more aware of what is happening in the world outside their door. Maybe, for some, the birds were always there and simply not noticed because of the hustle and bustle of normal life.
I believe, on some level, the birds are rejoicing in the decreased activity of humanity and the resulting cleaner air and water. Perhaps they wish to be seen; to show us the astonishing marvel of life and to help us learn to live in greater balance with nature. If you have not already today, I encourage you to go out and get your bird fix. You will not be disappointed.
My hope is that we all realize just how precious life is and how essential the natural world is to personal and planetary health and well-being. On a practical level, we can each do our part to support the wildlife we share the land with by providing indigenous plants that birds and other wildlife depend on for continued survival. May the birds inspire us and lead the way!
