Scientists reveal mood-boosting hobby which can stave off depression and it costs nothing

BIRD-watching boosts your mental health, a study has found.

Just seeing or hearing a single feathered friend lifts the mood for up to eight hours.

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A study has found that bird-watching boosts your mental health[/caption]

The finding adds to evidence of how getting close to nature by exploring the countryside or interacting with animals can stave off depression.

Researcher Ryan Hammoud, from King’s College London, said: “We have for the first time shown the direct link between seeing or hearing birds and positive mood.

“We hope this can demonstrate the importance of protecting and providing environments to encourage birds.”

The researchers used data collected from 1,300 people in the UK, US and Europe over three and a half years.

Participants filled out regular questionnaires on their wellbeing using a smartphone app.

Those who could see or hear birds at the time, or had within the past few hours, had scores suggesting they were 70 per cent happier.

The improvement in mood was seen even in those with a clinical diagnosis of depression.

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, PhD student Mr Hammoud said: “Everyday encounters with birdlife were associated with time-lasting improvements in mental wellbeing.”