Dr. Ursula Valdez, lecturer in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences<\/a>, has always been fascinated by birds \u2014 so much so that she created a Discovery Core class titled, Urban life and nature: Crows and other birds inhabiting the cities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is inspired by the thousands of crows and other birds that inhabit our campus and our cities, and the influence that those birds have on human life,\u201d Valdez said. \u201cIt is also inspired by my personal experience loving and studying birds.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n While bird watching is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States with an estimated 70 million birders, Valdez said most students haven\u2019t taken the time to observe their feathered friends until enrolling in the class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStudents can benefit both professionally and personally from bird watching,\u201d Valdez said, \u201cwhich is why I think it makes for such a great Discovery Core class.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n DCX classes are designed to help first-year and transfer students transition into university life and to introduce them to a variety of subjects they can study, many cross-disciplinary in scope. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As Valdez notes, bird watching \u201ccan sharpen students\u2019 observational and research skills \u2014 and requires them to pay close attention to detail, skills that are important to hone in any field of study. The personal benefits, however, are just as important as bird watching has a significant impact on people\u2019s mental health,\u201d she said. \u201cWith the stresses of college, having something accessible such as bird watching is extremely valuable to students.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a study published in BioScience, spending time in nature and watching birds can help reduce the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress.\u202fAnother study published in Ecological Economics found that being around birds was linked to higher happiness levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUsually when I am out on a nature walk, I tend to have my headphones on, and trying to notice birds has forced me to pay close attention to all the sounds around me,\u201d said Nathan Roberts, a transfer student majoring in Biology. \u201cIt feels very meditative. It calms my mind and makes it impossible to feel anxious in any capacity. It\u2019s very grounding.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bird watching can sharpen students\u2019 observational and research skills \u2014 and requires them to pay close attention to detail, skills that are important to hone in any field of study. The personal benefits, however, are just as important as bird watching has a significant impact on people\u2019s mental health.<\/p>\nDr. Ursula Valdez, lecturer, School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Over the course of the quarter-long class, students learn about the birds that live near the Bothell area and are instructed to keep a naturalist journal \u2014 a combination of a diary, sketchbook and scientific log. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is a great way to collect and organize observations, questions, connections and explanations from their time outside with the birds,\u201d Valdez said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The students\u2019 observations serve another purpose, too, as bird populations can be an indicator of habitat quality. \u201cMany birds have adaptations to specific habitat types, food sources and temperature ranges, and their diversity and population trends can tell us about the health of an ecosystem,\u201d Valdez said. \u201cA lower population of a certain bird species, for instance, could indicate poor ecosystem health whereas higher populations may indicate optimal ecosystem health.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to connecting with nature, students also get the chance to connect with students from the Graphic Design program at the Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica del Peru. This partnership is made possible by 56勛圖厙 Bothell\u2019s Collaborative Online International Learning program<\/a>, which aims to deepen global engagement of students in the classroom without requiring travel abroad by implementing online collaboration with international partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAbout birds and better health<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Of local and international note<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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