Animal Therapy: it's going to the birds

You see them on the street, in airplanes, in grocery stores, and even in doctors’ offices. Service animals have been part of the human workforce for centuries, dating back to the Middle Ages when dogs were first employed as guides and companions for individuals with disabilities (A Short History on Emotional Support and Service Animals - Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, 2021). Animals have a unique ability to bring us comfort and joy, which may explain the steady rise of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) since Freud began bringing his dog Jofi into therapy sessions in the 1930s (Ernst, 2014).

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-oriented therapeutic approach that utilizes the presence and interaction of animals to help reduce stress, elevate mood, and enhance an individual’s overall perceived quality of life (Morrison, 2007). Unsurprisingly, dogs have taken the lead in this field, dominating most AAT programs, followed by horses, cats, and then smaller animals like rabbits and guinea pigs (Ang & MacDougall, 2022).

In 2015, a Canadian psychiatric facility implemented an AAT program where inmates interacted with therapy dogs over a four-year period. Participants reported feeling happier, safer, and more cared for than they had before the program began (Smith et al., 2023). In another study, therapists working with children on the autism spectrum tested whether the presence of a dog during the sessions would have any impact on the patients. The results were significant—the autistic children demonstrated improved communication, emotional regulation, and physical engagement in the dog group compared to the control group (Ang & MacDougall, 2022). But another, often overlooked species has been slowly gaining ground in the world of AAT—one that’s already right outside our windows.

Birdwatching and listening to birdsong are often associated with calm, peaceful environments. Open any sleep or meditation app, and you’ll likely find background tracks labeled “nature” or “outdoors,” almost always featuring the sound of birds. But what effect do birds actually have on our mental health? A 2022 smartphone-based study in urban London sought to find out, asking over 1,200 participants to track their mental state throughout the day. Of the many questions asked to its participants one was: “Do you hear or see birds right now?” The findings were striking—participants who could see or hear birds reported significantly better moods, even when no greenery was visible (Hammoud et al., 2022). In another study, participants who spent just 30 minutes bird watching reported lower anxiety and overall happier wellbeing (Béguin et al., 2024). 

And it's not just wild birds making a difference. Domestic birds have also shown promising results as emotional enhancers in clinical settings (Béguin et al., 2024). In a 1986 study with schizophrenic patients, the presence of four caged finches in a therapy room led to more verbal interaction and reduced hostility toward therapists (Beck et al., 1986). A 2006 study in Italy had 144 elderly participants in a retirement home care for either a plant, a canary, or nothing (control group) over three months. Those who cared for a canary showed significant improvements in their perceived quality of life and a reduction in depressive symptoms, while the other two groups showed no notable changes (Colombo et al., 2006).

Further supporting these findings, a 2020 study in Iran placed psychiatric patients in pairs and gave them the responsibility of caring for budgerigars—small, colorful parakeets native to Australia. Over an eight-week period, participants fed, watered, and cleaned the cages of their birds under supervision. The staff noticed the patients who were taking care of the birds were less lethargic, eager to get up in the morning to care for their birds, and often sat next to the cage for hours talking to the researchers and other staff.  The study reported measurable improvements in happiness and self-reported improved quality of life (Sahebalzamani et al., 2020).

Birds are nearly everywhere on our planet, and their presence—whether seen or heard—may foster a deeper connection to nature in our increasingly urbanized lives. Numerous studies suggest that spending time in nature can lower blood pressure and reduce cortisol levels (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018), which could help explain the mental health benefits of hearing birdsong. While dogs, horses, and cats continue to lead in animal-assisted therapy research, the simple act of stepping outside to enjoy the sights and sounds of our feathered neighbors might be one of the most accessible and underrated ways to boost our mental well-being. They may just be the not-so unsung heroes we’ve been waiting for. 

References

A Short History on Emotional Support and Service Animals - Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles. (2021, January 22). Members.aagla.org. https://members.aagla.org/news/a-short-history-on-emotional-support-and-service-animals

Ang, C.-S., & MacDougall, F. A. (2022). An evaluation of Animal-Assisted Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders: Therapist and Parent Perspectives. Psychological Studies, 67(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-022-00647-w

Beck, A. M., Seraydarian, L., & Hunter, G. F. (1986). Use of Animals in the Rehabilitation of Psychiatric Inpatients. Psychological Reports, 58(1), 63–66. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1986.58.1.63

Béguin, N., Burtey, M., Lignier, B., Romo, L., & Mazé, C. (2024). Bird-assisted treatment in vulnerable people: A literature review. Human-Animal Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0018

Colombo, G., Buono, M. D., Smania, K., Raviola, R., & De Leo, D. (2006). Pet therapy and institutionalized elderly: A study on 144 cognitively unimpaired subjects. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 42(2), 207–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2005.06.011

Ernst, L. (2014, October). Animal-Assisted Therapy: An Exploration of Its History, Healing Benefits, and How Skilled Nursing Facilities Can Set Up Programs. Hmpgloballearningnetwork.com. https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/altc/articles/animal-assisted-therapy-exploration-its-history-healing-benefits-and-how-skilled-nursing

Hammoud, R., Tognin, S., Burgess, L., Bergou, N., Smythe, M., Gibbons, J., Davidson, N., Afifi, A., Bakolis, I., & Mechelli, A. (2022). Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment reveals mental health benefits of birdlife. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-20207-6

Morrison, M. L. (2007). Health Benefits of Animal-Assisted Interventions. Complementary Health Practice Review, 12(1), 51–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210107302397

Sahebalzamani, M., Rezaei, O., & Moghadam, L. F. (2020). Animal-assisted therapy on happiness and life quality of chronic psychiatric patients living in psychiatric residential care homes: a randomized controlled study. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02980-8

Smith, S., Colleen Anne Dell, Claypool, T., Chalmers, D., & Khalid, A. (2023). Case report: A community case study of the human-animal bond in animal-assisted therapy: the experiences of psychiatric prisoners with therapy dogs. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1219305

Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A. (2018). The Health Benefits of the Great outdoors: a Systematic Review and meta-analysis of Greenspace Exposure and Health Outcomes. Environmental Research, 166, 628–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030

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