SPECIES EXTINCTION | CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT WEEK | MENTAL HEALTH
New Research Reveals a Link Between Biodiversity and Anxiety
How important are the effects of birdsong to us, really?
Do you know the feeling in spring, when weak sun rays warm the dewy ground and the first birds start chirping their songs? What effect does that have on you?
Of course, sunlight ☀️ feels especially good for us after a long winter, not least because it slowly replenishes our vitamin D stores. In addition to bone stability and tooth retention, the vitamin also contributes to our immune system.
But what is so special about the birdsong? 🎵 🐦
New Study Demonstrates Effects of Bird Song on Our Mental Health
In mid-October, researchers from the Max Planck Institute in Hamburg published their study in 👉 Nature Scientific Reports.
In this study, nearly 300 participants were exposed to one of 4 noise settings for a duration of 6 minutes.
- 🚗 Traffic noise with low diversity
- 🚗 Traffic noise with high diversity
- 🐦 Birdsong with low diversity
- 🐦 Birdsong with high diversity
The results conclude that birdsong with high diversity could reduce depression. Traffic noise, on the other hand, regardless of diversity, has the potential to significantly increase depression.
Anxiety and paranoia were shown to be significantly reduced after exposure to birdsong, both at high and low diversity.
Biodiversity May Affect Us More Than We Think
Another exciting study was published in the spring of 2021, demonstrating how biodiversity among birds affects life satisfaction for us humans.
See also:
👉 The importance of species diversity for human well-being in Europe
Using data from over 26,000 Europeans from a total of 26 countries, the researchers found that bird biodiversity definitely has a positive effect on the life satisfaction of Europeans.
Thus, the previously mentioned research report of the Max Planck Institute summarizes the results from 2021 as follows:
“Remarkably, it was found that a 10% increase in bird species diversity raises life-satisfaction approx. 1.53 times more than a proportional rise in income.”
Remarkable, isn’t it?
Species Are Dying Out
In May this year, WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature Inc.) published a report on the current situation of declining biodiversity on their German website. So, according to the Living Planet Report 2020 during the last 50 years, “the number of wild mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles worldwide has declined by 68 percent.”
→ 68%! That’s over two-thirds! And it wasn’t even that long ago. If we weren’t born at the time, at least our parents were. So we are talking about 1–2 generations at most.
Thus, the question arises, of how much of our nature will remain. How much of it will our children be able to show to their grandchildren?
And as the housing situation keeps changing — namely, in the direction of even stronger urbanization — we might have to reckon with the fact that the mental health of people, in general, will also change for the worse, if we continue as we are doing now.
Christmas Bird Count Week
Christmas Bird Count Weeks began the day before yesterday and will continue through January 5. Birdwatchers from more than 17 countries are participating. They are counting every bird they see or hear during the day.
Anyone can participate!
Whether simply using binoculars or a professional camera, this “hunt” for birds can be a lot of fun and bring us a bit closer to nature again. For example, how about a winter walk in the woods with the kids? 🎄🦉
I can still remember how much I benefited from such nature-oriented excursions as a child. And I’m sure our kids will too!
If you would like to financially support projects that try to protect biodiversity but aren’t sure where, WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature Inc.) would be an option.
The symbolic adoption of an animal might also be a nice Christmas gift idea for some. 🎁👍
