Week 11: Birding
It's Week 11 of the Nature Rx Challenge! This week your challenge is to birdwatch! The weather might be getting colder, but there are still plenty of birds to see no matter what the season! Read on to learn more about the health and wellness benefits of birding and what birds to look out for this time of year.
On any given day when you look out the window or take a step outside, chances are high that you'll encounter a bird. I know that it's getting colder so spending time outside is less appealing, but remember that the reason we're doing this challenge is to tap into the healing powers of nature, and those powers will become even more necessary when the winter blues settle in. If you have trouble motivating yourself to get outside as the weather changes, upping your birding skills might be just the reason you need to get out there! Birding isn't just a good way to improve your naturalist skills, but it's also a great stress reliever. Scientists at the University of Surrey in the UK did some research on this topic and "discovered that, of all the natural sounds, bird songs and calls were those most often cited as helping people recover from stress." So, really, you don't even have to birdwatch to get these benefits. Even just sitting outside and listening to the birds will likely reduce your stress levels.
There are tons of birds who stay in Ohio during the winter and the bare trees make it even easier to spot them. If you are able, I suggest setting up a bird feeder near where you live so you can really attract our winged friends. While a guidebook or a pair of binoculars might be nice to have, beginner birders really don't need anything more than their eyes and ears to get started. Birds are usually most active in the mornings so, if you're so inclined, you can start your day off with a morning birding session. Birding also pairs well with a number of other activities in nature (many of which we've focused on during previous weeks of the Challenge). You can bird while you're taking a mindful walk, on a nice hike, or forest bathing. You can focus your nature journal on birding , take your lunch outside and bird while you eat , or you can simply just sit on a bench and look around. Birding can be as active or as passive as you'd like it to be. You can really take the time to figure out what birds you're seeing or you can simply enjoy the sights and sounds you hear while on the lookout for birds.
If you're interested in identifying some common fall and winter birds we find here in Cincinnati, click on the the ID sheet I've attached below. There are pictures and mnemonic devices to help you identify the birds you're encountering (this can be a great way to get the whole family excited about birding). I'd also recommend downloading the free Merlin Bird ID app. It is an AMAZING tool that helps you identify birds using photos you've taken or observations you've made.
There are so many more tips for birding that I've linked down below, check them out and happy birding!
More birding resources...
Guess what? Anyone can start birding with simple (and cheap) equipment, or even with things you already have around the house. Here's how.
Check out these tips for birding as the weather gets colder.
With the news that the U.S. and Canada have lost almost a third of their bird populations in the past 50 years, here's another reason to care about birds. A flutter in the leaves, breeze blowing the feathers of a perched bird, can send your spirits (and health) soaring.
Remember, you can check out past email's here and you can always shoot me an email (mcurran@imagoearth.org) or post about your experience in the Nature Rx Challenge Facebook group. Have a great week, we'll be checking in soon!
