Researchers have discovered that seeing or hearing birds can lift your mood for up to 8 hours.

Nearly 1,300 volunteers were recruited to explore if birds could improve mental well-being. Participants had to download an app on their phone and respond to a prompt 3 times a day for 14 days. The app asked them to describe their natural surroundings and their current mood. Analysis of the data revealed that hearing or seeing birds was associated with improved mental well-being. Paying attention to our natural environment can get us out of a negative headspace and help us enjoy the moment.

Kath Healy from Nature Play WA shared some great ideas to help your kids get out in nature and see birds. Like planting flowers in your garden to attract more birds. Or going on a nature walk and taking pictures of the birds you see. “There is an app called iNaturalist where you can upload your photographs of nature. The citizen scientists on there will tell you what the animal is where it lives what its scientific name is.”

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