The simple act of birdwatching can provide a powerful boost to mental well-being.
By Nancy Henderson
Despite the focus of her career and the global traveling she does for research and fun, Amanda Rodewald admits that some of her most meaningful experiences with birds are with those that flock to her backyard feeders. “You sometimes develop a relationship with these animals,” said Rodewald, Garvin Professor and faculty director at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Center for Avian Population Studies. “And focusing on them…can get us out of our own headspace, especially during times that can be challenging.”
According to the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations (including Cornell), bird populations in the United States continue to decline five years after a landmark study documented the loss of 3 billion birds—nearly one in three—over a 50-year span. Eastern forest species are down about 27%, with many impacted by residential development and urban sprawl.
But the report shows something positive, too: Birdwatching isn’t just about birds. For the nearly half of American adults who participate in some form of bird observation or feeding, the mental health benefits are undeniable.
The connection with nature alone can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. “Seeing or hearing birds has been shown to improve mood. It can reduce psychological distress,” said Rodewald, who also noted that data collected from smartphone apps indicates that birdsong can help people feel happier, restored, and positive.
Birdwatching also plays a role in mindfulness and cognition. “It can improve memory, pattern recognition, learning, mental sharpness, and it might reduce dementia,” Rodewald said. “You are paying attention to particular features of the birds, maybe learning their song, remembering them. We know any new activity for the brain is going to promote those things.”
Then there’s the social connection, since observing birds in groups or participating in birding organizations can combat loneliness. And the mere act of getting outside, moving around, and breathing fresh air offers a boost to both physical and mental health.
One of the best parts about birdwatching is that it is accessible to all, regardless of ability. “You can be blind and still listen to and appreciate birdsong,” explained Rodewald. “You can have hearing loss and still be able to watch birds. If you’re not ambulatory, you can be in your house, watching them at your feeder.”
You also don’t need to spend a lot of money. Free smartphone apps, for example, can identify bird calls. “If you don’t have binoculars, it can be really rewarding just to know, ‘Wow, that’s a cardinal that I’m hearing,’” said Rodewald. “It opens up this new way of really appreciating what is around you. And looking at birdfeeders is a nice way to really bring birds in close.”
Regardless of the method or reason, people from all walks of life are—and apparently have been for centuries—fascinated with birds. “We see that from some of the earliest drawings,” Rodewald explained. “Birds have forever been a big part of our cultural experience, throughout the world. I’m not sure if it’s that sense of flying up the skies, bridging between [heaven and Earth]. They’re so variable and beautiful and…so engaging in multiple ways to the senses. They’re always there, mostly, for us to engage with.”
The story above first appeared in our May/June 2026 issue.
