Birdwatching can help improve your mental health, researchers say Peeking through your net curtains armed with a pair of binoculars might raise eyebrows in some neighbourhoods but academics are […]

Peeking through your net curtains armed with a pair of binoculars might raise eyebrows in some neighbourhoods but academics are suggesting people experiencing high levels of stress try doing exactly that.

Birdwatching can help stave off depression, anxiety and stress, according to a study which examined the mental health of hundreds of people of different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds.

Researchers from the University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Queensland conducted surveys of the number of birds in Milton Keynes, Bedford and Luton.

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Common types of birds glimpsed during the study included blackbirds, robins, blue tits and crows.

People living in neighbourhoods with more birds, shrubs and trees are less likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and stress, the researchers found.

The study also showed that those who spent less time out of doors than they usually did were more likely to report they were anxious or depressed.

Researchers did not find evidence to suggest any particular species of bird had an impact on participants’ mental health. Instead, it was the number of birds people could see from their windows, in the garden or in their neighbourhood that had an effect on them.

Previous studies have found that most people do not have a strong ability to identify different species of birds, which indicates that for most people it is the act of interacting with the birds that helps to enhance their wellbeing.

“This study starts to unpick the role that some key components of nature play for our mental wellbeing,”said Dr Daniel Cox, who led the study.

“Birds around the home, and nature in general, show great promise in preventative health care, making cities healthier, happier places to live,” Dr Cox added.

The study, published in the journal Bioscience, follows previous research by Dr Cox and his colleague Professor Kevin Gaston, which found that watching birds makes people feel relaxed and connected to nature.

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