“Let’s go birding!” It sounds so fun, so easy! But for many people, that phrase is fraught with unknowns.
What is the path like? Grass, gravel, paved, two-track, muddy, rutted? How far are we going, and how quickly? Are there places to stop and sit down? How steep is the trail? Are there steps or big rocks?
These unknowns can be deterrents for people with mobility challenges who want to enjoy, appreciate, and benefit from nature. Mobility challenges can be permanent, such as a lifelong disability that affects motion. They could be temporary, while someone recovers from a broken leg or hip surgery. Or they could be part of aging, like not being able to hike quite as far as one used to.
At Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, we are passionate about facilitating opportunities for ANYONE who wants to enjoy birds. We already provide accessibility information about many of our field trips, but that along isn’t enough. So, we are excited to offer a tool to help alleviate some mobility-related concerns: our new electric-powered wheelchair, made for outdoor use!
A person uses the power wheelchair on a gravel trail through a prairie area in September 2023.
This power wheelchair is wonderful. It’s comfortable, portable, and easy to use. It can handle packed gravel, mowed grass, boardwalk, and paved trails. It allows folks who enjoy birding to access some of the natural areas they love, spend a longer time exploring, and feel more comfortable, safe, and independent as they do so.
I’m testing out our new power wheelchair at the UW-Arboretum in September. It was a great ride, even with wet gravel and puddles! Photo by Kaitlin Svabek / SoWBA
Some features include:
Comfortable seat (21.5” wide and 17” deep) and height (staff members who are between 5’4” and 6’ tested and approved its comfort level)
Joystick-controlled when in electric-powered mode, can switch to manual mode allowing someone to push the chair from behind
Rechargeable battery lasts up to 20 miles
Maximum speed is 7 miles per hour
Maximum weight it can hold is 400 pounds
Folds up and fits into the back of a vehicle (60 pounds, 2 people recommended to lift it)
Ability to handle up to 25 degree grade; auto-brake engagement to prevent chair from rolling backwards down a hill
This power wheelchair makes exploring on a maintained trail fun, comfortable, and safe. It’s not suitable for snow, mud, rugged terrain, or tall vegetation though!
A field trip participant uses an AAW outdoor wheelchair at a Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance field trip in 2021. Photo by Brenna Marsicek / SoWBA
A heftier version
If you’re looking for something more rugged, there is another great option. You may have seen our events offering and promoting Access Ability Wisconsin’s outdoor wheelchairs, which are amazing, multi-terrain, multi-season, safe mobility devices that allow folks to enjoy the outdoors independently. Those outdoor wheelchairs are available for individuals to check out for $2.75 plus a $50 refundable deposit, particularly at host locations like:
Lussier Family Heritage Center (Lake Farm County Park, Madison),
Fish Camp County Park (McFarland),
Upham Woods (Wisconsin Dells),
Riveredge Nature Center (Saukville),
Wehr Nature Center (Franklin),
and others.
The AAW wheelchairs are a higher-grade version of what we have, and can handle more rugged terrain. Check them out on AAW’s website.
We are so excited to share a love of nature with more people. If you would like to use our new power wheelchair on one of our upcoming field trips, please contact me (Brenna Marsicek, bmarsicek@madisonaudubon.org or 608-255-2473) to talk more!
Happy Birdability Week, and happy birding!
Written by Brenna Marsicek, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance director of communications and outreach
