Birdsong uplifts mood in urban spaces, but traffic dulls the effect, researchers say

A study with over 1,500 participants found birdsong improves mood and reduces stress, but even low levels of traffic noise blunt these benefits; heart-rate variability indicated greater stress when traffic was present, and wellbeing benefits increased with perceived bird diversity, especially among people with more bird knowledge. The findings suggest urban planning measures—such as slower traffic and more ground-level vegetation—to preserve nature’s mood-boosting effects.