The internet has so many benefits and chief among them is getting to see images that you cannot see in real life. Nature watching is an enjoyable activity at any age and one that many seniors enjoy. After a lifetime of careers, families, friends and travel, sometimes slowing down to view nature from a detailed perspective can make it all the more appealing.
For this reason, digital nature watching is one of the best ways to see it all, up close and personal, from the comfort of your home or assisted living apartment.
The benefits of digital nature watching are many. Perhaps the biggest benefit of all is that you can do it any time and from any place. Can't sleep at night? Feeling restless in the middle of the day? Bored at home or undecided on an activity for your friend group?
The answer to any of these situations is watching unfiltered nature through one of many cameras set up around the world. You not only learn more about the natural world, but you can view sights you may have never seen before.
If you are not as mobile as you may have been in the past, digital nature watching is like the world coming to you. Digital camera and video quality has become so highly-advanced that the programming makes you feel completely integrated in the scenery.
You can enjoy images and settings you might not otherwise see — from tropical paradises rife with massive birds with brightly-hued wings to majestic mountains and deep, narrow valleys. Learn more about the different animals and insects that inhabit various corners of the globe. Viewing options are numerous and range from cameras set up nearby a bald eagle nest to those that capture the wonders of the African savannah and beyond.
With the continued growth of technology options for entertainment purposes, the ways to view digital nature are more numerous than ever and include animals, plants and natural settings alike. Here are a few of the best options available:
This website boasts a live camera focused on a wild eagle's nest. The location of the nest remains private and viewers are treated to a live shot of the eagles that use this nest season after season. From watching hatchlings break through their eggs to the impact of natural disasters on the nest, it is wildlife viewing at its most authentic. A word of caution: The footage is not filtered, so sometimes, natural processes, such as predators encountering the nest, do occur.
This camera captures wildlife as they make their way around the land of the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya. The range of animals you will see with this digital nature option includes hyenas, hippos, leopards and elephants. Best of all, they are all in their natural habitat and the camera captures them all in action 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
While many live action nature cams center on life above ground, this view takes you below the surface and into the waters at the Aquarium of the Pacific in California. This exhibit boasts 350,000 gallons of water and more than 1,000 forms of sea life. However, it is the tropical reefs that really steal the show, with their bold and beautiful color as fish dart in and out of the various crevices on-screen. Several times a week, you can even witness divers going in to clean the tank or feed the animals found within it.
It's not every day you get to see a volcano erupt, yet that is exactly what this digital nature option offers. Iceland's Geldingadalir volcano began erupting in March 2021 after being dormant for almost 800 years. Seeing it play out on the camera offers a visual representation of nature's power and fury and is something unique to witness and a departure from nature viewing centered on animals.
Who doesn't love the cuddly cuteness of a koala bear? If you're a fan, then this is the cam for you. The San Diego Zoo set up a live feed for its Queensland koalas, so you can enjoy watching them romp around with one another no matter where you might be in the world. Everything about this exhibit mimics that of the Australian Outback, so they have as close a setting to their natural habitat as possible.
Park Regency Loveland assisted living community in Loveland, CO, encourages seniors to make the most of their access to technology, whether that's experiencing the wonders of digital nature or staying in touch with others. Free Wi-Fi and a friendly, helpful staff can help you stay connected and use the internet to enhance your lifestyle during retirement.
