Birds are fascinating and beautiful creatures. Looking at them in wild could be good for us. That is what researchers in Toronto, Canada say. The scientists found that birdwatching could protect our brains against age-related diseases. Lead researcher Dr Erik Wing said: "Skills from birding could be beneficial for intelligence and thinking as people age." Dr Wing and his colleagues compared scans of brain activity of 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies. brains of veteran birders were lot more active. Dr Wing said veterans had longer attention span and better memory than those new to hobby. He added that veterans could also process information more quickly.
scientists believe birdwatching benefits the brain like learning musical instrument. This is because brain learns new skills, which add new pathways and connections. Dr Wing said birdwatching combines ability to search for and identify things with sensitivity to movement and pattern detection. Other scientists recommend hobby. They say it is good for our mental health and can reduce stress. It is also good for our physical health because we are outside in fresh air and sunlight. Other benefits include connecting with nature and becoming aware of environment. Birdwatchers say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many like-minded people.
