Celebrate National Audubon Day with Your Parent on April 26
The National Audubon Society was created to protect birds and the places they live, feed, and breed today and in the future. They encourage support of our fine feathered friends through education, advocacy, and special events. While April 26 is its national day, as a caregiver for your senior parent, you can spend any day celebrating the birds in your neighborhood.
As a caregiver, you can use this special day to plan some fun time with your aging parent celebrating the birds in your area. Whether you live in a big city or out in the country, there are always birds that enrich the places we live and are worth celebrating and protecting. So, grab your binoculars and your parent and head out to find some birds on April 26.
- Go to the back yard. The easiest way to find some birds is often just opening the back door and heading out into the yard. If your parent has a home, or even an apartment with a balcony or patio, then he might have some birds right outside that he could get to know better. Often, those common birds that hang around backyards are the ones people know the least about. Help your parent spot some birds in his yard (if he has a bird feeder, it’ll attract even more varieties), then go inside and do some research on the birds you saw. As his caregiver, you can help him use the internet to look up the birds you saw, or you can purchase a birding book to try to find the birds you saw.
- Take a walk in the neighborhood. Spring is the time birds are building their nests and singing their songs each morning. If you can find the time, go for an early morning stroll around the neighborhood with your parent to see which birds you and your parent can spot flying around the trees and neighbor’s homes. You might be surprised by the wide variety of birds that frequent your area. If you’ve been kept inside due to COVID-19 restrictions, this can also be a perfect opportunity for your parent to reconnect with his neighbors. A caregiver from a home care agency can help your senior take regular walks when you are unable to assist.
- Visit a local park. If your park has trees and/or a body of water, birds are sure to be calling that park home. Bring your binoculars, your bird book and maybe even a portable chair to set out to watch the birds that visit the park. It’s fun to have a check list as well so that your parent can check off all the birds he’s lucky enough to spot. Don’t forget to bring the camera if your parent likes to take photos so he can capture them for future enjoyment by printing up his photos.
No matter how you decide to celebrate National Audubon Day with your parent, remember to bring the kids with as well so long as everyone can be safe. Bird watching is a great family-friendly activity that everyone can take part in together, building memories that will last a lifetime. When you can’t be there to take walks, a caregiver from a home care agency can ensure your senior loved one gets out in the fresh air and gets quality exercise.