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The Joys of Bird-Watching for Seniors

Senior, do you ever find yourself feeling bored? Unmotivated, adrift, or blue? 

Consider adding a little bird-watching to your routine. Birdwatching as a hobby is easy and requires little to no equipment. It benefits one’s mental and physical health and can lead to satisfying social interactions. It is a hobby that can bring joy and delight with each new discovery.

The Benefits of Bird-Watching

There are several good and helpful by-products of spending time bird-watching. Here are a few.

Mental benefits                      

Bird-watching can reduce stress and relieve negative thoughts and emotions. Watching and enjoying birds helps the mind relax and builds mindfulness.  A relaxed, meditative state stimulates cognitive function.

Being near singing birds boosts feelings of well-being and facilitates a connection with nature. Even seniors on bedrest can enjoy bird-watching with the help of their caregivers or family.

Birdwatching exercises memory muscles as you try to remember individual bird songs and identify bird species by sight and sound. The hobby sharpens concentration and promotes long-term mental health.

Bird-watching engages the senses–particularly sight and hearing.

Physical Benefits

Spending time walking outdoors provides a boost of Vitamin D and bolsters bone health.

Cardiovascular health improves with walking. Even short bursts of exercise performed often can improve your health.

Social Benefits

Enjoy birdwatching with other people. Share this activity with birding clubs, groups, grandchildren, neighbors, friends, or caregivers and experience the positive energy of interacting with other people around a shared interest.

Consider joining a local private Facebook birdwatching group in which you can participate in safe online discussions about local bird sightings. Intimidated by technology or afraid of getting on Facebook? A caregiver or grandchild can easily get you safely set up and oriented to the group.

Birding trips can be fun!  They may be scheduled on the grounds of your assisted living facility, at a local park, or at a location where birding is popular.

Bird-Watching Can Be Done in Many Ways

• This hobby can be done anywhere–from a window, outside on a bench, in a wheelchair, on a short walk, or on a longer walk.
• If bedridden or housebound, you can have your caregiver place your bed or chair near a window.  A bird feeder can be hung outside the window to make for easier bird-watching. As mentioned earlier, get set up in an online free Facebook group where you can join in conversations about bird watching locally or elsewhere.
• Handy with woodworking? Build your own bird feeder or birdhouse.  Remember that different bird species need different types of food and different configurations of houses and entry holes.

How to Start Bird-Watching

Indoor Watching

Find out what kinds of birds live in your vicinity. Study their diet and the type of feeders and houses they need. You can find books on birding in your local library or research the information on the internet. Make a list of the bird species you want to identify.

Create an outdoor bird-watching area.  Install a squirrel-proof bird feeder, add plants, a bird bath, and a bench to create a pleasant area to watch from indoors or outside.

Arrange your furniture with your bed or a chair near the window for the best possible bird-watching experience. Be patient! The birds will come!

Outdoor Watching

• This could take place in your yard, on the balcony, or while you’re on walks.
• Find a place where birds like to be–maybe near a lake, pond, or spring; or in a park or wooded area. 
• Wear muted, neutral colors to avoid startling the birds.
•  Avoid making sudden movements.
• Take a notebook and pen or pencil to write down bird sightings.
• Wear a hat, sunscreen, good walking shoes, and clothing appropriate for the weather.
• If walking, be sure to carry a water bottle, medications, and a cell phone.  Carrying them in a lightweight backpack is helpful.
• You can participate in the “Christmas Bird Count” by the Audubon Society.  The Christmas Bird Count has been around for 123 years.  Another fun activity is “The Great Backyard Bird Count.”  These bird-count projects help scientists see trends and research birding in different areas of the nation. 
• Good times for seeing birds may be during the spring and winter migration seasons.  There are some species of birds that stay in your area year-round.  The best time of day to see more birds is early morning near sunrise.
• Go to Audubon.com and click on the “Birds and Guides” tab for activities, information, and help.

Tools Needed for Bird-Watching

It is not necessary to purchase expensive equipment for bird-watching.  Start small and enjoy the experience!  The following items may be helpful to get started.

1. Binoculars or a bird-watching scope.  These items do not have to be expensive and can be upgraded as needed.  Optimally, they should have at least 8x magnification and a 25-30 mm lens.
2. A good field guide.  These guides may have maps, written descriptions of the birds, photos or drawings of birds, and bird coloring and features to look for.  Two good guides are the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America and the Sibley Guides for specific areas of the country.  On your cell phone, you can download the free app, “Merlin Bird ID” by Cornell Laboratory. 
3. A notebook to sketch or write down bird features.  You can also start a list of birds you have seen during the course of your life.  This can be done using a notebook or online using the “Merlin Bird ID” app.
4. Phone camera or digital camera to take photos of birds.

Bird watching is an accessible activity for seniors that inspires joy and delight in any season of the year. It produces satisfying feelings of progress and achievement as one is able to identify bird species by sight and call.

Seniors, consider adding bird-watching to your daily or weekly routines. You might be surprised at the enrichment it brings to your life. 

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