Woman reveals the evolutionary reason bird sounds relax the human mind like nothing else

The sounds we hear every day can shape how we feel, without us noticing. Something as ordinary as birdsong, drifting through an open window or echoing on a morning walk, might be doing more for our well-being than we give it credit for. A recent TikTok video has drawn attention to this idea and left many people thinking about what nature sounds really do to our minds. In the clip, TikTok creator and psychic healer MaryLisa Emery (@marylisaemery) shares that birdsong can have a soothing effect on the nervous system. In the video, Emery says, "It's like a primal sign that there are no predators around, so your nervous system starts to relax." 

She frames it as one of the many reasons being outdoors is good for mental health. The video, which has over 112,000 likes, resonated with many. Interestingly, an October 2022 study published by Nature Scientific Reports sheds light on the remarkable healing capabilities of birdsongs. Some viewers of Emery's video shared how the presence of birds has helped them feel grounded and at ease. @claraandherself wrote, "Omg is this why I’m so relaxed in the morning?" @gabigafforelli commented, "NO WAY! I didn’t know that about birds. That’s so cool! Thanks for sharing!" @a_dayinthelifeof_erin added, "I never thought about that. No wonder I love sitting on my patio listening to the birds." @dag1edageda said, "Learning this made me so keenly aware that most of the time I’m outside, there’s nothing to be weary of because the birds are singing."

@fernsnapp noted, "Birds also call out alarms when predators are near. I listen to nature sounds on my phone when I’m stressed." @lakerivermountain said, "It’s super helpful. Nature is my happy place." @nnav6 chimed in, "I can’t believe we have SINGING TINY FLUFFY ANIMALS on earth. Like, how unreal is that?" @_itsjustbrittany remarked, "In most horror movies that have daytime outdoor settings, they almost always make sure to eliminate bird noises for scary scenes! This makes sense now!" @der_hexen_doktor pointed out, "Did u know this is why there is a lot of birdsong in meditation music and binaural beats?"

Just as sounds from the natural world can bring a sense of peace, visual elements of nature have a similar power to shift our moods and calm our minds. One story shows how this idea is being used to change how students experience their classroom environment. Former school psychologist Ernesto Rodriguez is combining his background in mental health with his skills as a photographer to create calmer, more inviting classrooms. After working in schools without windows, he saw how limited exposure to nature could increase anxiety in children and decided to help students feel more connected to the outdoors through his nonprofit, Nature in the Classroom.

He prints photos of tree canopies on hospital curtains and installs them on ceilings so students feel like they are sitting beneath trees. He joked, "Having been a school psychologist, you don't touch teachers' walls. You do that and they cut your hand off—both of them. So I thought, well, let's use the ceiling because they don't typically use the ceiling." Rodriguez carefully selects images with warm tones and soft light, based on research that links these features to lower anxiety. He explained, "Kids who have views out windows to trees do better academically, emotionally, and creatively. And more graduate and go to college. I thought, why isn't this being used?" His installations now appear in ten school districts.

You can follow MaryLisa Emery (@marylisaemery) on TikTok for more psychic healing content.