I’ve been doing something similar to what Ric mentioned. My father-in-law moved into a nursing home in Cedar Rapids in January. They have very nice feeders on shepherd’s hooks in front of all the windows of his wing, but only one (in front of the common room window) was being kept filled. I asked if there was any problem with me filling them. There wasn’t so now I’m keeping three feeders going, and may take on more in the Spring when I can get to more of them without having to mush in! Previously, he lived in an up-scale retirement home and they had a number of nesting boxes and feeders that they kept clean and filled, plus a large inside aviary for exotic birds.
These two places apparently “got it” when it came to the importance of nature to the quality of life for seniors, whether in retirement communities or nursing homes. I suspect that the absence of wildlife viewing opportunities has more to do with the absence of a home or staff commitment to that aspect of quality-of-life. Advocacy and support of wildlife viewing/encounters and programming for both elderly centers and child care centers would be excellent mission activities for birdie groups, and might be a good initiative for IOU. Walt Stephenson, Cedar Rapids [email protected] On Mar 7, 2014, at 4:48 PM, Ric Zarwell <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear All: > > Linda Scarth brings up an important point, one that could just become a > mini-movement that makes the giver and the recievers both feel happy and > fulfilled. . . . . . . > > I witnessed first-hand the joy that watching bird feeders and nest boxes > brings to the elderly and infirm. And I feel it is ridiculous to deny senior > citizens and other institutionalized individuals opportunities to experience > and enjoy birds and other components of the natural world from windows or > courtyards at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, care centers, > hospitals, and similar facilities. > > When my parents (and both of my in-laws) were residents in the nursing home > in Lansing, IA, I offered to keep bird feeders filled, and staff at this > facility were pleased that I did so. Residents were even more > appreciative!!! This is an easy task that could be taken on by birders in > many if not most communities in Iowa. Scout groups, students in high school > shop classes, and members of other youth groups could be enlisted to > construct nest boxes and/or "shepherds hooks" for bird feeders, etc. A > little bit of fundraising would go a long way toward providing > "infrastructure" that would last for many years. Once the benefits to > residents of these facilities become obvious (and this WILL happen), those > facilities should feel an obligation to provide the food birds require, or > possibly share in this cost. > > I'm not sure, but my guess would be that having bird feeders and nest boxes > placed near windows and in courtyards where our deserving elderly are able to > enjoy them is up to the directors of each individual facility. But if there > is a state law against this, or if there is some restriction against such a > good deed by an "association of nursing homes," perhaps someone can uncover > those details. If laws and/or restrictions exist, they could and should be > dealt with (and perhaps eliminated) in a systematic way. Nesting and feeding > sites, and stop-over habitat for migrants are important wherever these can be > > Right next to poor care/treatment of Veterans, my next biggest pet peeve is > poor treatment of elderly citizens and handicapped individuals. If a formal > committee or even an informal group of IOU members would like to dig into > this issue, count me in. I can envision a couple of possible steps. First, > if real or imagined restrictions stand in the way, those should be addressed > in a meaningful way. Second, perhaps a "position paper" could be created > outlining steps to be taken by local facilities, and then made broadly > available. [ This could include advice on planting native species as per Dr. > Tallamy's book "Bringing Nature Home," pros and cons of various types bird > feeders and next boxes, etc., etc. ] If no such project exists in other > states, perhaps Iowa could create a model program for others to follow! > Initial advice could be sought from Dr. Tallamy on March 11, and also from > others. . . . > > Although I'm very busy opposing destruction of Northeast Iowa from a very > serious and ongoing threat of frac sand mining, and also holding down two > part-time jobs, I am willing to devote as much time as possible to this issue > IF members of IOU and/or members of other bird-related organizations are > willing to pitch-in. A handful of concerned about-to-be-senior-citizens > ought to be sufficient to make real progress. > > Thank you. > > > > > Ric > > <") > ( \ > / |`` > > Ric Zarwell > Lansing, Allamakee County > Email: [email protected] > Home/Office: 563-538-4991 > Mobile: 563-419-4991 > > GIVE CONSERVATION WINGS > > SHOW UP.... SPEAK UP.... ANTE UP.... > FOR BIRDS, FOR NATURAL HABITATS, FOR ALL BIODIVERSITY > > > > On Mar 7, 2014, at 12:18 PM, Linda & Robert Scarth wrote: > > This morning in the locker room after the water aerobics class at the Y, > someone mentioned birds she was seeing. Another woman said she missed seeing > many birds since moving to a retirement complex. Bird feeders and bird > houses are not allowed. I was taken aback by this restriction. Older people > need as much stimulation and pleasure as do children. Many older people were > probably among the last children in the woods that Richard Louv hoped to > revive in current children in his book "Last Child in the Woods". > > I did a quick search on the internet and found that this restriction (no > bird feeders or bird houses) is not unusual in over 55 housing complexes. I > suppose it is also in place in other types of condominiums, group housing, > etc. As group housing is being promoted in cities to minimize urban sprawl, > will this become more common? > > Next Tuesday, Dr. Doug Tallamy, who wrote "Bringing Nature Home", will be > speaking at Kirkwood CC, here in Cedar Rapids, about the value of native > plants and their pollinators. Hummingbirds are pollinators and a delight to > watch at a feeder. It seems bizarre to be limiting opportunities to watch > and enjoy nature among a population that may not be able to go to the woods. > > Does anyone know if there has been any research on the impact of this > restriction. I know there is research that looking at a tree out the window > is good for health and recovery. I would think it would be good to have > birds in the tree. > > Linda > > Linda & Robert Scarth > 1630 Wildwood Dr. NE > Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-4724 > phone: 319-366-6817 > email: [email protected] > www: www.scarthphoto.com > blog: scarthphoto.com/wp/ > > > > > > --- > This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership > available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/PayDues.aspx. > > ----- > You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]. > Unsubscribe at http://iowabirds.org/Reporting/Listserv.aspx. > > > --- > This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership > available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/PayDues.aspx. > > ----- > You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]. 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