I grew up in the city with not a lot of exposure to wildlife. Sure, we had little sparrows that would sit in our tree and chit chat with each other, but I really didn’t pay much attention to what they had to say.
When I got married, my husband and I moved into the suburbs near a forest preserve. I was never a morning person but waking up to the early call of the robin which was soon followed by other birds, actually put a smile on my face as I started to wake up. It sounded like an orchestra in the morning right outside my window.
Just by being outside, I began to learn each bird call and since they hung around my house a lot, I started feeding them. I learned the cardinals like sunflower seeds, the blue jays and woodpeckers liked peanuts, the finches like milk thistle, and the hummingbirds like sugar water. Soon in the mornings, the blue jays would sit on my deck asking for peanuts. The hummingbirds would look in my window wondering when their sugar water was going to be ready. The sparrows began sitting in the bush outside my door asking each other when breakfast was being served. I kid you not. What I began to notice is the birds noticed me!
Listening to the birds and having a relationship with them gave me a sense of joy and contentment. It’s an instant pick me up. I soon felt immersed in nature and began to see my connection to something bigger. My perspective on life has changed. I can clearly see nature’s calming effect on me and how there is a reciprocal relationship between us and nature. Nature’s intention is to not only help us feel good, it also helps us understand we are all interconnected.
But don’t just take my word for it. Here is an article about how being in nature and becoming a bird nerd could be the best medicine for you;
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/winter-2019/birding-benefits-how-nature-improves-our-mental
Getting into the green spaces and places is medicine for the soul. If you’re feeling down and need a lift, get outside and let your inner bird nerd fly!
Photo courtesy of Mark Olsen on Unsplash
