Birdsong and Mental Health

 1 Birds are singing, woods are ringing,

With thy praises, blessed King;

Lake and mountain, field and fountain,
to thy throne their tributes bring.

Refrain:
We, thy children, join the chorus,
Merrily, gladly praising thee;
Glad hosannas, glad hosannas,
Joyfully we lift to thee.

2 Waters dancing, sunbeams glancing,
Sing thy glory cheerily;
Blossoms breaking, nature waking,
Chant thy praises merrily. [Refrain]

As promised, the rain was teeming down before first light this morning. "No worries!" warbled the robins of the Dawn Chorus. One might assume that it was a sunny start to the day from listening to them. 

As I got going I listened to an interview with a woman who is part of a research team which is looking at scientific reports on the positive effects of birdsong on the mental well-being of humans. Not surprisingly, we cheer up when we hear birds give voice, with up to a 180% increase. I don't mean to chirp these folks, but I did smile when I heard that percentage -- how do you measure something like this effectively?

Whether its science or spirituality, I can give my personal testimony to the positive effects of birdsong, or whatever we might term it. A couple of days ago we got out on the Moira River in a canoe for the first time this year. We saw and heard wood ducks, red-winged blackbirds, a pileated woodpecker, and a huge gathering of Canada geese which were on the last patch of ice on a pond in the river. When they took off it was a startling and impressive cacophony. We were grateful they headed away from us!

I mention these bird species because we might agree that they would benefit from a voice coach. There is nothing melodious about their cries, yet our spirits lifted at the sound. And some birds cheer us despite making no sound at all. Not long ago we scared a snowy owl out of a dead tree on the beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park. We watched its quiet flight along the shore and were thrilled. 

I can understand why the hymn from the old blue Hymnary above didn't make it past the cut for the red Hymn Book of 1971, let alone Voice United. I realize that while the King and throne stuff needed to go, the tone of praise for all creatures and all Creation still moves me.

I'll leave you with the song lyrics of those remarkable theologiians, Lennon and McCartney: 

 Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free