I try to remain as still as possible as the House Sparrows approach my bird feeder and they sit atop the fence it's attached to. The slight breeze is making my long hair flow much more than I want it to. I'm supposed to be in stealth mode, not moving an inch as I sit on my patio sofa. I don't want to disturb them. I worry if they find me out here too often that they won't want to come back, that my bird feeder will be known as the one infested with humans. They must gossip about the bird feeders—which bird feeder gives the best seed, which one provides a drink with their meal.
So every time I enjoy my backyard I feel a little guilty that I'm scaring the birds away. No matter how still I sit they notice me and fly away. Sometimes I'm able to trick them for a moment and lure them into a sense of safety. They fly directly to the feeder and take a few bites while they frantically look around. Then they notice me as quickly as they came and return to the big blue sky. "I promise I won't hurt you," I whisper to them. No words could ever give them peace though. I suppose the only reasonable solution is to never go in my backyard; it's for the birds.
But there’s another reason I'm talking about birds today. TikTok informed me that bird watching is great for mental health, and since people on TikTok say it's true then it must be true—kidding, of course. This got me curious enough to look for scientific reports on the subject, and they do indeed exist. This report says that "everyday encounters with birdlife were associated with time-lasting improvements in mental wellbeing". Just seeing or hearing birds makes people happier.
Maybe that's why artists have always gravitated towards depicting birds, even in Paleolithic times. There's a 30,000-year-old etching of a bird in Chauvet Cave located in southeastern France. It kind of requires a childlike vision, but you can see the owl in the etching.
Maybe birds have always been a subject because of their colorful feathers, intricate patterns, and ability of flight. Who wouldn't want to admire or even be a beautiful creature that flies? The Egyptians had a god in the form of a falcon whose name was Horus. He symbolized power and healing. The healing part makes me pause because I can't help but wonder if they, too, knew that birds could improve your mental wellbeing. Obviously they didn't have modern research to back the idea up, but they must have intrinsically known.
And, back in present day, I can confirm that I'm happier now that I can stalk my bird friends through my bird feeder that has a camera. I've even made art of my very first visitor, a cute and hesitant House Finch. Here he is below—and I know it’s a he because only the male House Finches get the beautiful red coloring.
And since I've happily given up my backyard to keep the bird peace, I'm content to watch them from my window or my phone. They're loud enough for me to hear their chirps from inside anyway.
If you're in need of some healing, I recommend observing the birds. I recommend drawing them, even if it's just a sketch. It might make you happy.