Even when temperatures are still chilly and patches of snow remain, there is something about opening the windows in spring and hearing a bird singing that lightens even the most sombre of moods. While birds inside the house may require bird removal Montreal services, there is scientific evidence to prove that listening to birds outdoors really does help a person’s outlook on life. Here is what science says about the effects of bird songs and some suggestions for how you can experience this all-natural mood enhancer.

Feel Better With Bird Songs

If you think that listening to birds makes you feel better, it is not just your imagination. A recent scientific study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B showed that bird song actually has a positive effect on people’s moods. In the paper, researchers artificially enhanced the amount of birdsong audible on a mountain trail, then surveyed hikers they subjected to the extra singing. Their results showed a strong correlation between the level of birdsong and the hikers’ sense of well-being.

One of the most amazing findings of the study was that improved moods occurred after only 7 to 10 minutes of hearing bird songs from speakers hidden along the trail. This result suggests that the sound is a trigger in the human brain that turns on feelings of happiness in a short amount of time. In an interview, one of the researchers asked, “What happens after an hour?” Here is our answer to this question: go outside and find out!

Walk and Talk With Birds

Walking through natural areas is a great way to enjoy the added benefits of exercise and fresh air in addition to the psychological boost that bird performances provide. Of course, you don’t even have to leave home to hear birds vocalizing. Installing bird feeders, nesting boxes, or birdbaths will attract feathered singers to your yard to perform their daily dawn chorus just for you and your family.

In the same way being able to understand words and phrases in a foreign language adds to the enjoyment of travel, recognizing common bird species by their songs enhances your appreciation. One way to learn is to associate the cadence of bird songs with mnemonics; for example, you can think “drink your tea” to remember the song of the eastern towhee. An easier way to match the song with its singer is through an app on your phone that automatically identifies birds by sound.

Keep Birds Singing Outdoors

Bird songs are beautiful, but they are best heard outdoors and not inside your home. To keep birds outside this spring, follow these suggestions:

• Keep the garage door closed to prevent wrens from building nests inside.
• Cap your chimney to keep chimney swifts from entering.
• Keep screens on windows and stick decals to sliding glass doors to keep birds from running into them.
• Mount an artificial owl to frighten birds away from areas you don’t want them.

If a bird does fly into the house, open doors and windows until it finds its way out. Do not try to catch the bird, because you may injure its fragile wings. If you suspect that birds are nesting in your attic, chimney, or garage, don’t remove the nest yourself. Canadian law protects many bird species, and it is best to leave the removal of nests to experts with experience handling these delicate creatures.

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control knows that animals bring joy to life, but that they can also cause trouble when they are in the wrong places. If birds or other wildlife are in your home or too close for comfort on your property, contact us for advice from our bird removal Montreal experts.