How Birdwatching Can Transform Your Brain and Combat Aging

Recent research suggests that
birdwatchers exhibit distinct brain differences that could explain their remarkable skill in identifying unfamiliar birds. This indicates that engaging in birdwatching may alter brain structure, akin to the effects of learning a new language or musical instrument. Such activities are believed to enhance cognitive reserve—the brain’s capacity to combat aging and adapt to damage.

As individuals learn or practice new skills, neural pathways in the brain reorganize, strengthening relevant connections. This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, facilitates the acquisition of specialized knowledge. For example, professional musicians display structural changes in brain regions associated with auditory processing, while athletes experience similar adaptations in their motor cortex.

To explore the effects of birdwatching on brain structure, Eric Wing and his team from York University, Canada, examined the brain function and structure of 48 recreational birdwatchers, with participants categorized into experts and beginners. The age range of participants was between 22 and 79 years, ensuring balanced variables like gender, age, and education.

During brain scans, participants viewed bird images for less than four seconds. Following this, they attempted to identify the same bird from four options, each depicting a different species. “We purposefully selected bird species that were quite similar,” states Wing.

This identification task was done 72 times, utilizing images from 18 distinct bird species—six being local and twelve non-native.

As anticipated, expert birders outperformed novices, with an average correct identification rate of 83% for native bird species and 61% for non-native; novices, on the other hand, correctly identified only 44% of the birds.

Notably, while identifying non-local birds, activity increased in three key brain regions for expert birders, including the bilateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral intraparietal sulcus, and right occipitotemporal cortex—regions pivotal for object recognition, visual processing, attention, and working memory. “This illustrates the diverse cognitive processes involved in bird watching,” Wing explains.

Moreover, these areas exhibited greater structural complexity and organization in expert bird watchers compared to novices, indicating that developing expertise in birdwatching may reshape the brain.

As we grow older, the complexity and organization of brain structures typically diminish, a trend observed in both novice and expert birdwatchers. Nonetheless, the decline appeared less significant in birdwatchers, suggesting that engaging in birdwatching contributes to building cognitive reserve, enhancing the brain’s resilience against aging.

“This implies that staying mentally active in specialized areas may help mitigate the effects of aging,” asserts Robert Zatorre at McGill University in Canada. “While this has been a controversial topic, this paper provides new evidence that supports this concept.”

Broadly participating in other hobbies that demand similar skills—like attention, memory, and sensory integration—may drive comparable brain changes. Wing notes, “Birdwatching taps into numerous cognitive domains, potentially benefiting various cognitive abilities. However, the cognitive enhancement might not be exclusive to birds; if other activities engage similar processes, we could expect similar brain changes there.”

Nevertheless, this study reflects merely a snapshot in time. It’s possible that structural changes occurred prior to participants taking up birdwatching, or that other lifestyle factors leading to brain changes are more prevalent among birdwatchers. To determine if brain changes are directly linked to birdwatching, longitudinal studies involving multiple scans over several months or years are necessary, Wing asserts.