In the last couple of years, I've developed an appreciation for birds, mostly because I

can hear birds nesting in a tree outside my house.

When I'm not hosting post-reports, I'm a health and wellness reporter, and I was fascinated

to learn that these pleasant sounds are actually good for me.

Birds and bird songs are this wonderful, accessible source of positive, mental well-being.

Richard SEMA writes the brain matters column for the post.

The studies show that it's associated with just better mental health, but also decreases

and feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and depression.

From the newsroom of The Washington Post, this is Post Reports.

I'm Anahado Connor, and I'm your guest host.

It's Friday, June 23rd.

Today, the surprising power of bird songs for your well-being.

It's been well known for a while that there are a lot of benefits to spending time in

nature.

In fact, as a health reporter, I've written stories myself about how the Japanese government

encourages people to go out and spend time in nature to improve their health, which

is a practice that they call Shinran Yoku, which essentially means forest bathing.

I really had no idea that you could get these benefits simply by listening to bird songs.

As you're saying, there are many benefits to nature in general, and there are studies

linking green spaces or exposure to greenery and trees to mental well-being, as well as

what are called blue spaces, like water, features, sounds of bubbling, brooks, waterfalls.

I was really surprised that one of the studies had about 1,300 people track their mood

...