The Benefits of Birdsong

BY MARCY DUBROFF

ho can deny that the sweet strains of a songbird’s voice can raise one’s spirits on even the gloomiest of days? Humans have certainly enjoyed the sounds of birds in nature for millennia, writing paeans and odes to celebrate the virtues of our feathered friends.

In his essay, Sacred Music: The Ecstasy of Birdsong, Richard Pope explained that one of the main reasons that humans have worshipped birds is because “we envied their godlike access to the heavens and revered them for their flight.” Their songs evoke similar feelings of reverence, and “tightly link humans and birds to each other, and both of them to the divine.”

Birds can utter “articulate sounds” according to Pope, and although there are other animals, such as mice and whales that have the ability to sing, “none sing with the complexity, variety, and musicality of songbirds and humans.” Thus, a powerful bond between the two species has formed, based on music—even Charles Darwin acknowledged this when he wrote that “our enjoyment of the singing of birds” was a “result of our similar tastes for the beautiful.”

Perhaps Henry David Thoreau captured this connection best when he described the effect of birdsong on his psyche, writing that “it lifts and exhilarates me. It is inspiring. It is a medicative draught to my soul. It is an elixir to my eyes and a fountain of youth to my senses. It changes all hours to an eternal morning.”

Recent scientific studies now validate this infatuation with these colorful and fragile creatures by linking their sounds with mental health and a sense of well-being. For instance, a recent project done by Dr. Eleanor Ratcliffe, an educator in environmental psychology at the University of Surrey, linked birdsong to increased attention spans and the alleviation of stress. Ratcliffe wrote, “‘through my research on the restorative potential of bird sounds, I was able to show that bird sounds can create similar relaxing experiences (such as) seeing nature or going for a nature walk. I was able to find out how different properties of sounds create the link between sound and wellbeing.” Anecdotally, who can deny that the gentle coo of a dove or the trill of a skylark has calming and restorative effects on humans as we navigate lives that are ever more frenetic and overwhelming?

The good news is that even those who live in urban environments or who are housebound can still enjoy the benefits of birdsong. Birds are now the fourth most popular pet in the United States, according to Pethelpful.com, with more than 16 million birds such as finches, parakeets, canaries, and white doves taking up residence alongside humans in their homes. Even the showy peacock, often associated with royalty and zoo exhibits, can make for a friendly avian presence, although most people who own these spectacular birds live in warm climates and keep them in large shelters outside their houses.

Four of these pet birds live in the Buettner household outside of Baltimore, Maryland. The four zebra finches (Ron, Hermione, Bart, and Lisa) that joined the family during the COVID pandemic at the insistence of the youngest Buettner, Michael, grace the corner of his mother Rita’s home office and are now mainstays of all of her virtual meetings. During this author’s interview with Rita, the finches’ lively chirping could be heard in the background.

“When I am on a Zoom call with my colleagues, the birds are especially vocal,” she said. “People will often comment that ‘oh, Rita is in the meeting . . . I can hear her birds!” Buettner explains that it is now almost a given that the finches’ songs will serve as the soundtrack to virtual staff gatherings. “They are now part of my professional identity,” she chuckled.

Joan Roque, of Cayey, Puerto Rico, has a similar relationship with JJ, the beautiful and colorful Caique (a type of parrot) she has owned for 11 years. While JJ does not talk as much as Roque’s other birds (a parrotlet who died last year, and several cockatiels, lovebirds, and parakeets she had a child), she will sing when she is excited and make lots of other noises. “I love hearing her ‘talk’ and sing to me, said Joan. It is like we are having a conversation.”

It is clear that there is a strong bond that exists between the two. During our interview, JJ perches quietly on Joan’s shoulder and whistles softly when Joan laughs. JJ gently nudges Joan’s ear when she thinks Roque is not paying enough attention to her, which prompts another round of giggles and whistles.

Joan and JJ were separated for several months when Roque and her husband relocated from Utah to Puerto Rico for a career move, and JJ had to overcome some restrictions imposed by the government before she was able to rejoin her human family.

“JJ was very angry with me for a while,” said Joan, “and would ignore me and screech whenever she saw me.” Eventually, JJ realized that she was now safely back with her family, and began singing and whistling as she did before the move. She is now back to clowning around and being affectionate with Joan and her husband. “I love to hear her vocalize and laugh,” said Joan. “She is a true member of our family.”

Ratcliffe expounds on both Rita and Joan’s bonds with their feathered friends. “My research expands on an opinion piece by Pete Brash in The Guardian. In that, he speculated on how bird sounds might help people through the darkest days of winter.” Ratcliffe’s studies found that some bird sounds can offer relief from mental fatigue and stress, especially those that are “quiet, high frequency, or have a level of complexity, such as a melody.” Ratcliffe postulates that these sounds are associated with environments that contain resources such as water, plants, and animals, which are areas where humans can thrive. Thus, people feel safe when they hear these birdsongs and respond in a positive way to the sounds.

Another theory that Ratcliffe explores is how our “brains process information and focus on certain tasks.” This theory suggests that nature sounds, including birdsong, help us overcome fatigue by giving us something pleasant on which to focus. Bird songs “give us a break from other cognitive challenges in the environment, and allow us to replenish depleted energy levels,” she writes.

Another research study, done by Roger Ulrich in 1984, indicates that bird songs can also have restorative effects on those who are recovering from illness or surgery. His groundbreaking article, “View Through A Window May Improve Recovery From Surgery,” found that people in recovery who had a view of nature and could hear nature sounds, including birdsong, needed less pain relief medication which resulted in shorter stays in the hospital.

Hal Chernoff of Connecticut attests to the restorative effects of birds and birdsong. Chernoff, who has lived with his cockatoo Rosie for more than 30 years, credits his “opinionated and needy” friend with getting him through some tough times in his life. “Rosie and I bonded early,” says Hal. “While she doesn’t actually sing, her vocalizations are part of my everyday life. She has been with me through a divorce and the loss of loved ones, and I find that her presence and her voice are therapeutic, even if the rest of my family (which includes five cats) doesn’t like it when she screeches!” Hal keeps Rosie in a large cage in his home office, but she often perches on his shoulder or head while he works. “I don’t really even notice it anymore,” he says, “and I consider her my close and dear friend.”

For those who are not inclined to bring a bird into their home, but still want to benefit from their vocalizations, there are several therapies that have recently become popular that feature the sweet sounds of chirping. For instance, in Amsterdam, there is a lounge in Schiphol Airport that pipes in bird noises to calm down nervous travelers. And in the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, England, the sounds of birds accompany patients and visitors as they traverse the hallways. And for those who want to appreciate the beauty of our feathered friends in other ways, there are always the lovely prints of birds a la Audubon and Fuertes, and the bird-inspired fashions of Iris van Herpen and Medha Bhatt.

The pleasantness and calm that birdsong brings to our lives is truly a transformative experience for many. Perhaps Pope sums it up best when he writes, “birdsong deeply resonates in the human heart, and the resonance is more than aesthetic. We are, so to speak, hardwired to be able to appreciate the musicality of birdsong—hence its enormous appeal. It speaks to us directly and pleases us, but on a subliminal level, it seems pregnant with meaning—even magical. Birds speak the language of the gods.” ■

The reveal of ELYSIAN’s Winter 2022/23 issue on thought leadership and the holidays perfectly complemented the work showcased at the National Foundation for Legislative Women’s Annual Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. Leadership development is one of the pillars of the NFWL’s mission; the ELYSIAN woman is a natural leader. The conference focused on everything from criminal justice reform to health equity to early childhood education. And in every one of these sectors, women are not just rising to the challenge of leadership, they are excelling—and they are making an impact in their communities, their states and their country. ■

Top Row: Charleston, SC, in all her colorful glory. • Second Row, left to right: Sarah Smith, ELYSIAN’s Special Events Director, with the Winter cover reveal. ELYSIAN Publisher Karen Floyd celebrates the new issue. Eboni Williams spoke on the importance of choosing community over individual differences. • Third Row, left to right: The annual conference brings women together to focus on everything from criminal justice reform to health equity to early childhood education. GA Rep. Sandra Scott celebrating her ELYSIAN feature, birthday, and new role as NFWL Chair of Membership. SC Sen. Katrina Shealy with the 2023 NFWL Board taking their Installation Oath of Office. TN Rep. Karen Camper winning the Dean McManus Spirit of NFWL Award as presented by SC Sen. Katrina Shealy. Eboni Williams sees her cover for the first time. • Fourth Row, left to right: NFWL members are making an impact in their communities, their states and their country. Opening reception sponsor, author Rhonda Leonard, signed books for attendees. Rhonda with Dr. Quincie Moore. SC Rep. Rita Allison and Dr. Moore mingle with elected women during a policy roundtable session.