Feeding birds is good for the soul.
Feeding birds can be a good thing for humans
Scientists have analysed the relationship between bird feeding and human wellbeing and have found that both species benefit from the practice.
Professor Ashley Dayer, of Virginia Tech in the United States, said: "Wildlife agencies... need to be considering not only what the science is behind what's going on with birds, but also the science behind what's going on with people."
She continued: "People are not only reporting what they see at their bird feeders, but also their emotional responses to it.
"It's pretty fun because most citizen science projects focus just on the natural or physical science, but we're now able to look at the human piece of it.
"People in urban areas can feed birds. People with a wide range of physical abilities can feed birds. So it's just a great way to keep that human connection to wildlife."