A study reveals that birdsong significantly boosts psychological well-being, but traffic noise in urban areas undermines these benefits, according to research involving over 1,500 participants across multiple institutions.
Participants exposed to restored forests with birdsong reported the lowest stress levels and highest emotional well-being, while those in urban settings with traffic noise experienced the opposite.
How the Study Unfolded: Environments, Sounds, and Emotional Responses
The study tested four combinations of environments and soundscapes: a restored forest with birdsong, a restored forest with traffic noise, an urban area with birdsong, and an urban area with traffic noise. Participants, including 106 students from North Carolina State University and over 1,500 individuals in other trials, reported their emotional states after 10-minute exposures.
Dr. Eleanor Ratcliffe, associate professor in environmental psychology at the University of Surrey, emphasized that birdsong’s calming effects were consistent regardless of acoustic complexity. Bird sounds tend to be one of the elements of nature soundscapes that people perceive as being most relaxing, most pleasant, beneficial for them psychologically,
she said. The study also found that younger participants, with better hearing, reported higher well-being than older peers.
Key Findings: Birdsong’s Restorative Power and Traffic Noise’s Detrimental Impact
The results showed that restored forests paired with birdsong produced the strongest psychological benefits. Participants in these conditions reported the lowest stress, highest positive emotions, and greatest mental restoration. In contrast, urban settings with traffic noise led to the highest stress levels and the least emotional resilience.
The mixed combination of birdsong in the city and traffic noise in the forest produced moderate results,
Peterson explained. Both natural surroundings and bird sounds independently improve mood, and together they provide the greatest mental health benefits.
The study also found that perceived biodiversity in birdsong—such as hearing multiple species—enhanced well-being, particularly among participants with knowledge of local wildlife.
Heart rate variability data from a subset of participants confirmed physiological stress responses. Those exposed to traffic noise showed significantly lower variability, indicating heightened stress. This shows we should support and protect nature for the sake of nature, regardless of whether or not humans have some increased utility benefit from it,
Ratcliffe said.
Implications for Urban Planning and Personal Well-Being
The findings have direct implications for urban design. Researchers recommend reducing speed limits, increasing vegetation near parks, and integrating natural soundscapes into city planning. With urban planning now including more green spaces, it is important that steps are taken so that people enjoy such areas to their fullest,
Ratcliffe said.
For individuals, the study suggests that accessing even small green spaces with birdsong can yield mental health benefits. Listening to birds is quite an accessible way to engage with nature,
Ratcliffe noted. So, I think it’s something that people can do without a lot of effort.
The research also underscores the value of restoring urban forests. The study’s restored riparian forest, created between 2002 and 2006, demonstrated that ecological restoration can provide mental health benefits comparable to ancient woodlands. Even restored forests can deliver measurable health benefits,
the study concluded.
