Collaborative effort brings bird garden to Thalman Square

Hummingbirds, finches, sparrows, chickadees and a noisy red wing blackbird have visited the Thalman Square courtyard this spring, to the delight of residents and thanks to a volunteer effort spearheaded by villa residents.

Neighbors on Thyme Road meet monthly. When one of them moved to Thalman Square Memory Support, Rowena Hardinger had an idea that it would be nice for residents there to have a bird garden. She mentioned it to the group, which donated to make it a reality.

“Everyone just picked it up and ran with it. It’s been such a delightful thing to work on,” Rowena enthuses. “There isn’t anyone who doesn’t know someone with dementia.”

Audubon Society and Bird Friendly Cedar Falls volunteers Hank and Lorene Wellnitz agreed to draw up the plan and install the components, which they did in late April. Several feeders are designed to attract different varieties of birds, and a water feature also entices them to visit.

“Just to be randomly contacted by people who want to do something is amazing,” explains leisure services coordinator Hollie Beem. “This is just one more thing the residents will enjoy outside.”

Step up your bird watching anywhere:

Ever wondered “What’s that bird?” An easy-to-find answer may be at your fingertips through Merlin Bird ID application, developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and recommended by the Wellnitzes.

Download the app to your computer or smartphone, answer a few questions about the bird and get a list of possibilities. Submit a photo of the bird or even a recording of its call to enhance the results.

The app includes information relevant to novice or experienced bird watchers, culled from more than 5,000 birders spanning the globe. You can use the app in your backyard or when traveling.

Visit merlin.allaboutbirds.org for more information.

Thalman Square residents sent this thank you photo to all those involved in the funding and installation of their new bird feeders.