Winter begins on December 21, but the indoor season starts much sooner. Furnaces fire up — blustery afternoons clear the decks and sidewalks. You’re left staring out the windows, wishing for more time to enjoy the great outdoors. So, why not try your hand at backyard bird watching?
The birds are tougher than us. They share their antics and songs year-round on the other side of the pane.
Perceptive caregivers note that backyard bird watching cheers and calms people with dementia. So much so that the Audobon Society designed a unique program for those living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Winter begins on December 21, but the indoor season starts much sooner. Furnaces fire up — blustery afternoons clear the decks and sidewalks. You’re left staring out the windows, wishing for more time to enjoy the great outdoors. So, why not try your hand at backyard bird watching?
The birds are tougher than us. They share their antics and songs year-round on the other side of the pane.
Perceptive caregivers note that backyard bird watching cheers and calms people with dementia. So much so that the Audobon Society designed a unique program for those living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Like various visiting pet programs, Bird Tales helps people with dementia build comforting connections to other living beings. More importantly, sharing the experience creates rewarding interactions with family members and professional caregivers, even in dementia’s advanced stages.
Try Backyard Bird Watching for Yourself
- Like Care Haven’s memory care assisted living homes, your house probably features a large window in the main living area. On days when the weather keeps you indoors, gently guide your loved one to a “front-row seat” to feeders or bird-friendly habitats.
- See that feeders are positioned in clear sight and kept full of fresh seed. A birdbath is likely to draw even more wildlife.
- Get the ball rolling by talking about your backyard bird-watching observations.
- Listen as your loved one watches. Do they talk about past times spent birding?
- Were they once hobbyists? Do they like to identify or talk about different species?
- Do they know about bird songs and calls? If so, you can find DVDs, online recordings, YouTube videos — or even singing clocks and stuffed animals to delight them.
- No birds today? Look at a bird guide, identification cards or magazines while creating a “wish list” of future visitors.
Give your loved one a sense of purpose by asking them to help fill feeders. Make it easy by scooping seed from a large bucket over open ground or an easily swept indoor space. (Clean up all spilled seeds to avoid slips and falls.)
You’ll find plenty of house and feeder projects online, too. Remember, keep it simple. The object is not to create a masterpiece but to attract more birds.
Like the Audobon Society, you will discover that backyard bird watching is a low-cost, high-impact activity. Invest in a feeder or two. Find any birding book you need at the local library or a used bookstore. Then set aside a few quiet moments to enjoy with your loved one.
Give your loved one a sense of purpose by asking them to help fill feeders. Make it easy by scooping seed from a large bucket over open ground or an easily swept indoor space. (Clean up all spilled seeds to avoid slips and falls.)
You’ll find plenty of house and feeder projects online, too. Remember, keep it simple. The object is not to create a masterpiece but to attract more birds.
Like the Audobon Society, you will discover that backyard bird watching is a low-cost, high-impact activity. Invest in a feeder or two. Find any birding book you need at the local library or a used bookstore. Then set aside a few quiet moments to enjoy with your loved one.
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