Can feeding backyard birds improve mental well-being? New research suggests that for the 59 million Americans who engage in the practice, the answer is yes.
A study led by researchers at Virginia Tech found that most participants in a community science project across the U.S. and Canada believed feeding and watching birds positively influenced their well-being. The researchers further found that these positive effects were manifested in three ways: emotions, engagement and a sense of meaning.
The researchers surveyed over 3,600 participants in Project FeederWatch, an initiative that encourages people to submit their winter bird-feeding observations. Participants completed a mental wellbeing questionnaire before and after the six-month FeederWatch period and described how they felt feeding and observing birds had impacted them.
By the end of the six months, 95% of participants reported that feeding and observing birds had positively affected them. Meanwhile, only 55% said other events in their lives had a positive effect during that time.
While the study highlights positive impacts of bird-feeding on humans, the activity can both benefit and create risks for birds. The research team recommends checking guidance from Project FeederWatch on how to reduce risks to birds, such as by cleaning feeders regularly, keeping cats indoors and collision-proofing windows.
