On Backyard Feeding this episode, I hook up with a group that does local bird hikes. If Spring ever gets here, I’ll be joining them to see what birds we can see locally. We were actually planning a hike that day, but the weather turned, so we postponed it. Migration season is upon us – I learned about the lights out program where big cities are trying to turn off unecessary lights to help birds stay oriented while migrating. Guess what your EnviroMinute challenge is this week? You got it! Turn of all exterior lights. Dr. Bird answers a question about Birds, Squirrels and Cats living together. I’m not sure everyone realises how dangerous squirrels can be to young birds! In the headlines this week, the Keystone XL pipeline gets approval from the White House which could mean a disaster for the Sandhill Crane. The Kea has contagious laughter, and studies are showing larger birds are adapting their behaviour to avoid more collisions. Enjoy!
View The Entire Episode Here
Backyard Feeding
EnviroMinute
Ask Dr. Bird
The Headlines
Dancing and laughing birds! Love it!
Lisa, one year will go on a birding trip to watch those laughing and dancing birds! Maybe when we retire?
As always, another wonderful episode. Really liked Dr. Bird’s cat call out. We have a cat, but she has never been outside in her 14 years; she’ll watch birds through a window. A colleague has three cats, which she let’s run wild all summer and then complains about the birds they drag home. She is vehemently anti-hunting, and I like to joke with her that she is a hunter, but uses cats as opposed to a gun. “But they only do what’s natural.” And I reply “my cat has never caught a bird and is none the worse for wear.” Good thing we are good friends. 🙂
Warren, every spring and summer we have to chase somebody’s cat in our backyard. Since Brome Bird Care is located in a small town, everyone knows our feeders and everyone feeds birds. Everyone also asks us to come up with a Cat Buster because having feeders inadvertently attracts cats.
Hopefully the ‘CatBuster’ really does a number on the cats running the neighbourhoods. 🙂
I find it hard to believe when your trustworthy sources say that one billion birds are killed by cats every year. Do the math: that’s 32 birds per second, 1920 every minute. In the time it took to watch your video, about 3300 birds would have been killed. Sorry, just not believable.
Jinnj, I have asked Dr. Bird to answer your question. He has more access to studies done on cats killing birds. I will forward the attachment via email.