International Longevity Centre Global Alliance - Designing the Future of Ageing

29 April 2026

Social gerontologist and birder, Dr. Masako Osako, gave an informal online talk to older people in the Chicago area on the emergence of wheelchair birders.

Traditionally, many birders have had to give up birdwatching when they can no longer walk, but this situation is changing dramatically with the development of online apps such as Merlin Bird ID, especially among casual birders.

In her speech, Dr. Osako commented:

Merlin Bird Sound ID listens to the birds around you and shows real-time suggestions for who is singing. With this free app, you can identify birds you hear no matter where you are in the USA.

She stressed that getting started as a digital birder is easy:

It involves only a few taps to hear bird songs, and no previous training is needed.

• Download the Merlin Bird ID app to your phone.
• Open the app and select “Sound ID.”
• Keep your phone steady and allow the app to listen.
• The app will identify birds in real time — from sparrows and cardinals to blue jays and warblers.
• Look or point your binoculars in the direction indicated. You may well spot a red cardinal singing on a branch.

She also noted:

“Whether you are in a wheelchair, at home, or even bedridden, Merlin helps you enjoy birds.” The benefits of wheelchair birding are many:

• Enjoy the rhythm of the seasons: Spring migration brings 30 or more bird songs appearing on the app, compared to about 10 in winter. Nature’s ever-changing soundtrack is at your fingertips.
• Connect and share: Compare notes with friends and start lively conversations about birds and nature. This can enrich social interaction in settings such as senior community gatherings.
• Stay connected to loved ones: Send a note and a photo to your grandchildren:
  “This morning I heard pine warblers singing for the first time this year. They are back from the South. Happy spring!”

For further reading, Dr. Osako recommended a scientific study on birdwatching and the brain, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, 25 March 2026, 46(12): e1307252026. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1307-25.2026

Participants thanked Ms. Osako for an engaging talk. Some suggested forming a “wheelchair birding club” in their retirement community.

Note: This report was prepared by  Ms. Masako Osako, who is affiliated with the Secretariat of International Longevity Global Alliance, Ltd, and reflects her personal observations and interpretations. It is intended for informational purposes only. Any views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the International Longevity Center Global Alliance, Ltd.