Relationship between the birdwatching practice and the human nature connectedness: a cross-sectional study

The theory of nature connectedness implies that the human relationship with the natural environment affects directly the physical, mental, and general well-being of people. Although birdwatching enables humans to connect with nature, the impact of this practice on health has been little explored. This research evaluated the profile of the Brazilian birdwatchers and their connectedness to nature, considering their sociodemographic characteristics and birding practices. An analytical cross-sectional observational study was conducted with birders who answered an online questionnaire, which contained sociodemographic data, birdwatching profile, and connectedness to nature scale (CNS). A total of 444 birdwatchers participated in the survey; most of them were male, aged between 19 and 77 years (mean = 41); the majority had a university degree and had been practicing the activity for more than 5 years. The main reasons that motivated them to start birding were to feel more connected to nature, to improve mental wellness, and to collaborate with citizen science. The CNS score was high. The higher the birdwatching frequency, the higher the CNS, and daily birding activities raised it to 9.30 points. Therefore, the practice of birdwatching can lead to a greater connection with nature and in this way can become a tool to promote human wellbeing and environmental health.