February Is for the Birds
Tips for watching, feeding, and counting birds, wherever you are
During the past year, we were often told to listen to or follow the science. Well, I am happy to report that there is more and more scientific evidence to support the idea that everyone would be better off watching birds. You can watch them at a feeder while you are sitting on the couch, or you can go to a park to see them.
Studies from England, Los Angeles, and Spain indicate that the closer you live to a park and the more contact you have with nature, the better your mood, psychological well-being, mental health, and cognitive functioning scores will be. In short, watching birds is good for you, and you don’t even need a note from the doctor to do it. For those interested in the mental health aspects of birding, the book “Bird Therapy” by Joe Harkness will be helpful.
Courtesy of PixCams
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It’s not just that February is National Bird Feeding Month. Every month since the beginning of the pandemic last year has seemed like a bird feeding month.
Sales of feeders, seed and most anything to do with birds have skyrocketed as people have flocked to the avian world a safe, colorful and interesting haven during the sometimes glum and lonely days of the pandemic.
At the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania headquarters in Fox Chapel and its store at its Succop Nature Park in Butler, sales of feeders and seed have skyrocketed 200% since early last year.