This is bird note.

Many people would tell you that hearing bird song, like the one from this hermit thrush,

puts them in a good mood.

Recently, scientists have tried to put numbers to this effect

that many of us have noticed.

One study has shown that people reported relief

from feelings of worry and paranoia after hearing just a few minutes of bird song.

Researchers had almost 300 people listen to six minutes of either traffic noise or bird song.

Before and after listening, they filled out questionnaires asking them about feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and depression.

People that had spent a few minutes immersed in the sounds of birds

had lower levels of paranoia and anxiety than those who only listened to traffic noise.

It's the first time that researchers have found that bird song can decrease feelings of paranoia.

While they're still working on understanding why, it's possible that hearing birds singing

makes people feel like they're in a safe environment, free from threats, and gives their

brains the signal to relax a bit.

We hope that this quick show about birds has put you in a better mood.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.

Support for Bird Note is provided by Cindy Gantz in honor and memory of former

Bird Note board member Tom Darden and by generous listeners around the world.