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taken yet) but the population of these animal
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Hi David C. & All, Jan 24, 2016
Not being a birder I am on thin ice here but is it not correct that =
birds which commonly feed on the ground would be most susceptible to =
predation by cats (such as Pidgins and Starlings) whereas birds which =
seldom land on the ground to feed should be least affected by cats (such =
as Swifts, Warblers and Swallows) ?
Are the above ground feeders (Pidgins and Starlings) in drastic =
decline while all the examples who feed above ground (Swifts, Warblers, =
and Swallows) are doing just fine ? I would have guessed it was the =
other way around which, if correct, would demonstrate that cat predation =
is a non-issue.
And you are going out on an extremely weak limb if you suggest that =
cat predation trumps habitat. I am sure you must know better; habitat is =
the foundation upon which life rests.=20
Cats which are turned loose, probably because their owners can't =
afford to feed them, can't find an affordable apartment which allows =
pets, have to move... is an entirely different matter. Fixing them and =
turning them loose is also a non-solution.=20
People who did not grow up seeing animals killed are reluctant to =
condone it. It is all part of the 'lets control the seal population by =
giving them contraceptive pills' or let's give the Terns a break and =
control Gull populations by hiring people to make distracting noises =
whenever a Gull starts to mount a female school of "thought".=20
This isolation of many humans from reality is sad but don't blame =
cats for that.
And in review; if two three letter words (CAT and ATV) can generate =
all this traffic can you imagine what a four letter word (CATV) might =
do.
It is way past my bedtime.
DW, Kentville
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----- Original Message -----=20
From: David Currie=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 5:27 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Vancouver has new "bird strategy"
Hi All
We sometimes get caught up with the estimated numbers quoted from EC =
or others as being totally accurate for some reason, though always =
expressed in an estimate or within a certain range. I don=E2=80=99t have =
to tell this group that science is based on fact with those facts =
extrapolated to give us some idea. Cod numbers, seal numbers, feral cat =
numbers etc. to make a comparison. Is the number of birds really that =
important other than it=E2=80=99 a lot and getting worse as free-roaming =
cats increase? Don=E2=80=99t we think that if we lose 350 million or =
100 or 70 million land birds/small animals to cats in Canada a year, =
it=E2=80=99s too many when we can avoid it? Do we always have to =
complain about collisions, habitat destruction etc. to lessen the guilt =
we have about our pet cat?
This is a human issue of attitude and it is important that we become =
more responsible for our cats as we have with dogs. Cats are doing what =
they are built to hunt extremely effectively and we are contributing to =
aiding an invasive species that has a direct impact on our natural =
wildlife. Relegating our pet cats to the house doesn=E2=80=99t mean a =
life in the closet, and from what I understand from my friends, it =
develops a better =E2=80=9Cpet experience=E2=80=9D where they are not =
killed, shot at, poisoned, scarred or lost. On the wildlife side, we =
humans need to take some responsibility here and quit hiding behind the =
, my cat is =E2=80=9Ctoo old=E2=80=9D, =E2=80=9Ctoo fat=E2=80=9D, =
=E2=80=9Cdoesn=E2=80=99t climb trees=E2=80=9D, is a =E2=80=9Cbush =
cat=E2=80=9D, (I=E2=80=99ve heard that one) and =E2=80=9Cnever brings =
anything home=E2=80=9D attitude that relieves them of the guilt they =
have.
If we talk to the trap and neuter people, which I have, they are =
experiencing a huge growth of unwanted cats in NS, there are no =
resources to deal with it and a public attitude that pretty much =
encourages dumping them. Burnside Park in Dartmouth, the TN people say, =
has 1000 feral cats at a minimum as the SPCA (located there) has no room =
so the people open the car door and abandon them right there. They told =
me you could set a trap anywhere there and catch animals daily.
I suppose some roaming cats may very well develop a taste for rodents, =
and I guess selective enough to not include, chipmunks, young hare, =
meadow voles, Star-nosed Moles, amphibians or birds given the =
opportunity but we humans seem to believe that cats, in order to enjoy =
their lives, need to be outdoors. I am encouraged to see Vancouver take =
a stand.
ps...can someone tell me why keeping cats inside at night is an answer =
to the problem or is that point so the cat doesn=E2=80=99t get hurt as =
easily? =20
David Currie=20
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<DIV>Hi David C. &=20
All, &nb=
sp; =20
Jan 24, 2016</DIV>
<DIV> Not being a birder I am on thin ice here but is =
it not=20
correct that birds which commonly feed on the ground would be most =
susceptible=20
to predation by cats (such as Pidgins and Starlings) whereas birds which =
seldom=20
land on the ground to feed should be least affected by cats (such as =
Swifts,=20
Warblers and Swallows) ?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Are the above ground feeders (Pidgins and=20
Starlings)