Who knew that listening to birds, watching them or trying to identify them could help your brain?

Studies mentioned on the National Institutes of Health’s website have found that during birdwatching the human brain releases oxytocin and there is evidence of more efficient brain activity. People bond emotionally with birds as they take the time to watch, listen and identify species. And, with ample opportunity to birdwatch (there are over 11,000 bird species worldwide) it is no wonder that one in three U.S. adults enjoy birding. 

Young birder, Pepper, using binoculars to spot birds on a family camping trip. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

One such person is Zach Adams, who has been birding for over two years. He says he does it for several reasons. “It gets you in touch with nature, it’s cathartic and it’s addictive. It's kind of fun to list new birds and to see a new entry on your life list, and it is also very refreshing to be outside and looking around in nature,” Adams said. 

The popular eBirds and Merlin (developed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology) apps are used by most birders including Adams. They create a life list of birds to see. The app allows folks to submit sightings to a global database. Bird listing has become competitive. Many birders say they feel that it is like being on a scavenger hunt with an opportunity to observe nature.

“If I go to a new place it is definitely on the top of my mind to find new birds,” Adams said. During one of his trips he found what he called a “lifer,” a bird to add to his life list.

“Puerto Rico has the coolest birds, we saw a Puerto Rican Amazon parrot which is critically endangered. We had to go to a weird place to see it, but it was worth it,” Adams said. 

The apps Adams uses both help him identify the bird and also they keep track of the birds he finds.

The American Birding Association recognizes those who have a big year, which is when a birder identifies as many birds as possible by sight and sound within a calendar year. There are even competitions for the most sightings recorded in specific areas amongst the birders. 

Backyard birding is fascinating year round as this bird, a cedar waxwing, was finding food in a Millcreek resident’s backyard during the spring. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)

Eagle sightings in Utah common during winter months

If one of your lifers is a bald eagle, then you are in luck. Hundreds of bald eagles spend the winter months in Utah to find food and avoid colder weather up north. There are many places around the state to view this bird that represents the strength and freedom of the United States including the (free) George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center at Farmington Bay, the Weber River, Willard Bay Reservoir and Echo Reservoir. Eagles are also often spotted around Utah Lake, Deer Creek and Jordanelle reservoirs. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has more information about best viewing locations.

Community birding helps with conservation

The Alta Environmental Center has collaborated with Tracy Aviary and the nonprofit Friends of Alta for the last 10 years working to study bird populations in the Wasatch mountains. They offer birding hikes in the summer and for the winter, birding on skis. It is led by Tracy Aviary staff and skiers are invited to help document bird species. The data collected is uploaded to eBirds to track and study the bird populations, habitat and species for conservationists

Birds are strong indicators of the health of our environment. Monitoring bird populations helps conservationists track habitat changes and predict the effects of environmental shifts.

A ptarmigan spotted at Alta Ski Resort. (John Strater Brown/Millcreek)

Bird Slam, a local competition 

Whether you are new at birding or a pro, Utah has a Bird Slam to make this hobby more exciting. The Bird Slam is a way to raise money for birds, get folks excited about birds and improve identification skills which helps with tracking different bird species.

The Bird Slam was created by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources along with multiple conservation organizations. Visit Utah.wildlife.gov to sign up and pay a registration fee. Then select the slam that you want to try and begin birding. For mountaineers, there is even a High Elevation Slam where you identify birds over 7,000 feet. There is no deadline for these slams and there are rewards for completing the slam. But, as most birders know, identifying birds in your community is its own reward.