This sound works on the mind like meditation. Just a moment is enough to truly relax

Close your eyes. Do you hear that sound? It's not a meditation app or white noise. It's birdsong - an everyday, accessible form of natural therapy. As it turns out, it works better than many mindfulness practices, and research has proven it.

When we open the window at dawn and hear the first birdsong, it's not only a sign that spring has arrived. It's also a signal to our brain: "You can relax. The world is right." And although it sounds like poetry, there's hard data behind this effect.

A team of scientists, who published a study in Scientific Reports in 2022, proved that just listening to birds – even through headphones – can significantly improve mood . 1,300 people monitored their surroundings and well-being for two weeks. Those who heard or saw birds felt better – regardless of whether they lived in the forest or in the middle of a metropolis.

What's more, the effect lasted for several hours. As Clinton Francis, a biologist at California Polytechnic State University , notes:

- It was like clearing my mind.

It's hard to find a more graphic description.

The answer lies not in magic, but in biology. As psychologist Cindy Frantz explains, "We are designed to connect with our surroundings." Our brains interpret birdsong as a sign of safety . In the wild, silence signaled danger—a predator nearby? So when we hear the joyful chirping of birds, our nervous systems get a signal: "It's okay to breathe."

Birdsong/Photo: Unsplash Dulcey Lima

It is this mechanism that explains why the morning song of a nightingale or a starling can quiet even the most racing thoughts. Scientists also point to the effect of the so-called soft fascination – the stimuli of nature are delicate, subtle, they attract attention without overloading it. And this works better than many a screen with a meditation application.

The best effect is achieved when not just one, but an entire choir of birds sings. Studies show that the variety of species of sounds has a particularly positive effect on us . In an experiment in which participants listened to a multi-species "ghost concert" (broadcast from speakers hidden in the forest), their level of mental regeneration was significantly higher than in those who wandered in silence.

Interestingly, even recordings can have a soothing effect. But both Frantz and Francis agree: nothing replaces real contact with nature. A balcony, a small garden or a simple walk in the park will suffice.

If you don't have a bird soundtrack in your environment yet, don't worry! Just turn on the right ambient on YouTube or Spotify, open the window and close your eyes. After a while, the natural trills will provide you with a moment of respite from the rush of everyday life.