Episode 12: Matching Heartbeats: Mindful Birding, Heart Health, & Hummingbirds

[email protected] In this episode of the Mindful Birding Podcast, Holly & Holly share why birds are truly heart healthy, both in the way they fill our hearts with joy and love, but also with cardiac fitness in mind. How can wild birds help make our hearts stronger?  Our connections to other people and animals can sometimes synch our biorhythms, and even our heartbeats, and we wonder if this also happens when we connect with the wild birds around us.   We spotlight the bird with the biggest heart, and Holly Merker shares a guided hummingbird visualization adapted from the book Ornitherapy The poet Julia Travers generously shared some of her writing with us, and she’ll read a beautiful piece of her work honoring birds in this episode. In the Mindful Birding Nerding Science Segment, Holly Thomas delves into some of the research surrounding green spaces and cardiac health and specifically the effect of nature prescriptions on cardiometabolic health in particular In the Joy of Birdsong, Holly Thomas brings us with her as she enjoys the beautiful song of the Crissal Thrasher in her backyard in New MexicoOther references mentioned:Joseph CampbellSupercommunicators by Charles Duhigg Music and HeartbeatTwo Hearts Beat as One - Dogs and their HumansIntro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgainIntro Birdsong & Clips throughout : Western Meadowlark Outro music: “Inspired by Nature” by PlayAgainOutro Birdsong: Eastern Meadowlark Mindful Birding Network WebsiteInstagram: @mindfulbirdingnetworkProduced by Co-hosts Holly Merker and Holly Thomas