Volunteers put bird feeders, bird houses at local nursing homes
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Tim Tierney fills a bird feeder at The Village of Orleans, a nursing home in Albion. Tierney stops by weekly to fill two bird feeders at the nursing home. He is shown today at the birdfeeder in front of the nursing home near Route 31. There is another birdfeeder in the garden of the nursing home.
The Orleans County Bluebird Society and the Albion Betterment Committee have been working to add birdhouses and birdfeeders. The Bluebird Society is April added 16 bird houses to the Orchard Manor nursing home in Medina.
“Perhaps it is because they are often colorful and can fly that songbirds are able to lift our spirits,” said Gary Kent, a leader with the Betterment Committee and Blue Bird Society. “Or it may be that their songs can be delightful. The ability to brighten days becomes especially important for those who sometimes feel virtually trapped in nursing homes.”
Clarence Winkelmann built the two bird feeders at The Villages about three years ago. He recently made 16 bird houses for the Orchard Manor nursing home in Medina. Those bird houses were put at Orchard Manor about two months ago. Winkelmann said he would soon put a new roof on the bird feeder he is pictured with.
Winkelmann and Tierney agreed that the bird feeders and bird houses have been an easy way to boost the quality of life for nursing home residents.
Tom Fuller of Medina installed 16 bluebird boxes at Orchard Manor in April. Kent thanked Barry Neal of Country Contracting for donating the ¾ inch exterior plywood used to build the bird houses.
