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LABIRD-L for Friday, January 5, 2001
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Subject: Re: cats & birds
From: Paul Dickson <Paul(AT)MORRISDICKSON.COM>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 7:33am
Miriam: YOU GO GIRL!
By the way, I discovered via holiday greetings that even the Emperor has a
CAT named coal!
upper case P
-----Original Message-----
From: MiriamLDavey [mailto:athena(AT)INTERSURF.COM]
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 11:05 PM
To: LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu
Subject: Re: cats & birds
Elaine & all:
Just to stir the pot a little:
Have you ever wondered exactly what it is we humans do to a landscape to
make it unacceptable for so many neat birds you see mostly only when out
birding? I have. I've itemized each detrimental effect carefully, many
times.
First we remove most of the vegetation and replace it with concrete,
buildings, lawn, and exotic vegetation that doesn't support local native
microfauna, but instead creates conditions favorable to native but
opportunistic brood parasites like Brown-headed Cowbirds, and to introduced
exotic avian life like European House Sparrows and Starlings, which crowd
out native birds.
Then we erect streetlights and floodlights and decorative landscape
lighting that interfere with nighttime rhythms of many native creatures,
probably us included.
Next we drown out bird and animal sounds with constant traffic, leaf-blower
and lawnmower noise.
On top of that, we inadvertantly kill scores of birds with our vehicles,
communication towers, and glass windows.
As if that isn't enough, when humans move into a landscape, we usually go a
step further---we actually introduce to the already damaged landscape,
harmful and destructive exotic fauna, with the number one offender the
common housecat.
Studies have been published showing that loose housecats and feral
housecats are responsible for a suprisingly large portion of native North
American songbird mortality.
As one who lost the battle with the rest of the family over whether our two
cats stay inside, or come and go at will inside and outside, I can testify
that both of them do catch birds at the bird feeder. This is not good.
Spreading the ground food out in an open spot, away from bushes and trees
cats like to hide behind, lately seems to have foiled our two at least
temporarily.
The worst damage mine and other loose housecats (most cats) do, though, is
no doubt at nesting/fledging time in spring and summer. The knowledge that
our cats might well be catching and consuming not only Blue Jays and
Cardinals, but rarer nesting songbirds like the Wood Thrushes makes me sick.
The neighborhood habitat evidently is ok, since Wood Thrushes are present
all spring & summer, but are "our" Wood Thrushes successfully raising
young, or is the abundance of loose cats helping convert my area into the
equivalent of a black hole not only for Wood Thrushes, but White-eyed
Vireos, and other less common songbirds? Their babies survive brood
parasitation by cowbirds only to get caught by an exotic predator--my cat.
What a thought.
My family is on notice---no more cats, since we evidently are
unable/unwilling to keep them inside at all times. When these two are
gone, they will not be replaced, at least not with felines.
People need pets. Can't argue against that. They offer us great emotional
comfort. So fellow responsible stewards of the land who seek a pet--- get a
nice dog, train it well, and keep it clean and indoors except on a leash or
under direct supervision. It's been my experience that dogs are far
superior to cats as indoor pets. (Crunch, crunch go the toes...)
Digging this hole a little deeper (yes, let's!)---here's why dogs are
superior indoor pets, as I see it: Because dogs are trainable, and because
indoor dogs are WAY easier than indoor cats to keep clean, indoor dogs are
much more likely than cats to stay indoor pets. I can defend this point
tooth and nail (pun intended), but the details aren't all savory.
Many of the other detrimental effects we have on native birdlife are going
to be hard to "fix". The cat one is relatively easy, I think. Let's just
make it unfashionable for one to be seen out-of-doors.
MiriamLDavey
BatonRougeLA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: BCBCBC results are on birdsource
From: Paul Dickson <Paul(AT)MORRISDICKSON.COM>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 8:05am
labird: The January 1, 2001 BCBCBC found 117 species. As with most other
cbc's in the region this winter, the expected birds were found but few
rarities were noted. One bird is boldfaced for this year: White-tailed
Kite, a known pair present for several months that was originally found by
Terry Davis. Two parties saw one or both birds on three occasions. High
numbers were noted due apparently to two causes, cold weather and the
burgeoning trend of picavorous species on Pool #5 of the Red River.
High counts: White Pelican 3413
Double-crested Cormorant 39,777 (that's not a typo and
I am really confident of that number)
Great Egret 712
Harrier 53
Ring-billed Gull 1,677
Mourning Dove 734
Harris' Sparrow 9
Eastern Meadowlark 708
Not boldfaced but still good birds were: Osprey 1
Greater Scaup 1
Vermillion Flycatcher 1 (3 widely
separated birds are known in this area this winter)
Conspicuous by their absence, presumably due to the cold and snow were fish
crow, sedge wren, lapland longspur (surprising), blue-gray gnatcatcher,
catbird, vireos, odd warblers, lark sparrow. Sadly absent due to long-term
decline was Bobwhite. The Red River Valley was once filled with this
treasured bird in abundance.
The significant aspect of this year's bcbcbc was SNOW and cold. For those
in other La. counts that are tempted to boast of braving the cold check out
these conditions calmly accepted by hardy bcbcbc'ers: Low 26, High 33, Snow
cover 2.2 in., still water frozen, sky overcast, wind NE @5-10. Yes, many
parties OWLED in this weather before dawn, 9.5 party miles were walked, and
Times reporter Mary Jimenez and I rode around on 35 miles of the flooding
and turbulent Red River in an ice covered boat. BRRRRRRRR!
Paul Dickson
compiler
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: second chance calliope
From: Lewis Roussel <speckking(AT)MINDSPRING.COM>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 8:15am
We were disappointed that our backyard calliope did not appear for the Baton
Rouge CBC feeder watch. The bird was last seen on the saturday before the
count. I wondered whether our wintering rufous hummer had finally
out-competed the bird and caused it to move on to friendlier territory.
However, following the recent cold weather, the rufous has not been seen for
several days. To our suprise, the calliope has appeared again. It is
leading a relaxed life now that it doesn't have to tip-toe around the
rufous.
Lewis Roussel
speckking(AT)mindspring.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: crested caracara at Lacassine NWR
From: "Danny M. Dobbs" <ddobbs(AT)XCLLTD.COM>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 11:12am
LABIRD
My son and I were at the Lacassine NWR on Thursday afternoon, 4 Jan, and
observed a crested caracara. This bird was along the last leg (north side)
of the new (for me at least) wildlife drive around the main pool. It was
originally seen on the ground in a burned over area and then flushed into a
tree about 75 meters from the road where we observed it for about 15
minutes. Maybe this bird is a regular at the refuge and I am the last to
know about it but this is the most easterly that I have observed this
species.
Danny Dobbs
Lafayette, LA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: 3rd North American Ornithological Conference - logo contest
From: JINGOLD <JINGOLD(AT)PILOT.LSUS.EDU>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 11:29am
The 3rd North American Ornithological Conference will be held in New
Orleans, LA 24-31 September 2002. The Organizing Committee is organizing a
contest to develop the logo to be used for the conference. The logo will be
used on all types of materials associated with the meeting-programs, tote
bags, t-shirts, banquet mementos, etc.
The contest is open to anyone, but the committee would like to encourage
both undergraduate and graduate students to submit their artwork. The theme
of the meeting is: "Birds on the Bayou: In the Footsteps of Audubon". The
logo should incorporate this theme.
Rules:
1. Submissions are due by 28 February 2001.
2. The artwork should contain no more than 4 colors (black should be
counted as one of the colors but not white).
3. The artwork should incorporate the theme of the conference: " Birds on
the Bayou: In the Footsteps of Audubon"
4. Artwork will not be returned.
5. Artwork should be no larger than 8.5" x 11"
6. The artist whose logo is accepted will receive free registration to the
3rd North American Ornithological Conference and a banquet ticket.
Submissions should be sent to:
Dr. James L. Ingold
Department of Biological Sciences
LSU-Shreveport
1 University Place
Shreveport, LA 71115
jingold(AT)pilot.lsus.edu (318-797-5236)
Please be encouraged to show this notice to your students and colleagues,
and please pass it on to any other bird related listserv.
Thanks!
Jim Ingold
LSU-Shreveport
jingold(AT)pilot.lsus.edu
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: 2/10 Cleanup Bayou Sauvage, NWR
From: Betty Brody <Travels717(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 12:29pm
Please help the Crescent Bird Club and Lockheed Martin clean the bird habitat
at beautiful Bayou Sauvage.
TIME: Saturday, 2/10/01, 8:30 AM (you can come as late as 9:30 AM)-11:30 AM
PLACE: The Boat Launch parking lot on Highway 11
DIRECTIONS: Drive on I-10 East through New Orleans East and take Exit 254
(the North Shore, Irish Bayou, Highway 11 exit). Drive west on Highway 11
about 2.5 miles, and the Boat Launch will be on your right. For further
information, crescentbirdclub(AT)aol.com or 586-1381.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: cats & birds
From: Carol Foil <lcfoil(AT)ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 6:41pm
Wow! Coal is a cat! I have to chalk up another terrible field
misidentification on my part. Golly, he is the largest and curliest cat I
have ever seen tho ... I am amazed!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Dickson" <Paul(AT)MORRISDICKSON.COM>
To: <LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu>
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 7:37 AM
Subject: Re: cats & birds
> Miriam: YOU GO GIRL!
>
> By the way, I discovered via holiday greetings that even the Emperor has a
> CAT named coal!
>
> upper case P
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MiriamLDavey [mailto:athena(AT)INTERSURF.COM]
> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 11:05 PM
> To: LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu
> Subject: Re: cats & birds
>
>
> Elaine & all:
>
> Just to stir the pot a little:
>
> Have you ever wondered exactly what it is we humans do to a landscape to
> make it unacceptable for so many neat birds you see mostly only when out
> birding? I have. I've itemized each detrimental effect carefully, many
> times.
>
> First we remove most of the vegetation and replace it with concrete,
> buildings, lawn, and exotic vegetation that doesn't support local native
> microfauna, but instead creates conditions favorable to native but
> opportunistic brood parasites like Brown-headed Cowbirds, and to
introduced
> exotic avian life like European House Sparrows and Starlings, which crowd
> out native birds.
>
> Then we erect streetlights and floodlights and decorative landscape
> lighting that interfere with nighttime rhythms of many native creatures,
> probably us included.
>
> Next we drown out bird and animal sounds with constant traffic,
leaf-blower
> and lawnmower noise.
>
> On top of that, we inadvertantly kill scores of birds with our vehicles,
> communication towers, and glass windows.
>
> As if that isn't enough, when humans move into a landscape, we usually go
a
> step further---we actually introduce to the already damaged landscape,
> harmful and destructive exotic fauna, with the number one offender the
> common housecat.
>
> Studies have been published showing that loose housecats and feral
> housecats are responsible for a suprisingly large portion of native North
> American songbird mortality.
>
> As one who lost the battle with the rest of the family over whether our
two
> cats stay inside, or come and go at will inside and outside, I can testify
> that both of them do catch birds at the bird feeder. This is not good.
> Spreading the ground food out in an open spot, away from bushes and trees
> cats like to hide behind, lately seems to have foiled our two at least
> temporarily.
>
> The worst damage mine and other loose housecats (most cats) do, though, is
> no doubt at nesting/fledging time in spring and summer. The knowledge that
> our cats might well be catching and consuming not only Blue Jays and
> Cardinals, but rarer nesting songbirds like the Wood Thrushes makes me
sick.
>
> The neighborhood habitat evidently is ok, since Wood Thrushes are present
> all spring & summer, but are "our" Wood Thrushes successfully raising
> young, or is the abundance of loose cats helping convert my area into the
> equivalent of a black hole not only for Wood Thrushes, but White-eyed
> Vireos, and other less common songbirds? Their babies survive brood
> parasitation by cowbirds only to get caught by an exotic predator--my cat.
> What a thought.
>
> My family is on notice---no more cats, since we evidently are
> unable/unwilling to keep them inside at all times. When these two are
> gone, they will not be replaced, at least not with felines.
>
> People need pets. Can't argue against that. They offer us great emotional
> comfort. So fellow responsible stewards of the land who seek a pet--- get
a
> nice dog, train it well, and keep it clean and indoors except on a leash
or
> under direct supervision. It's been my experience that dogs are far
> superior to cats as indoor pets. (Crunch, crunch go the toes...)
>
> Digging this hole a little deeper (yes, let's!)---here's why dogs are
> superior indoor pets, as I see it: Because dogs are trainable, and
because
> indoor dogs are WAY easier than indoor cats to keep clean, indoor dogs
are
> much more likely than cats to stay indoor pets. I can defend this point
> tooth and nail (pun intended), but the details aren't all savory.
>
> Many of the other detrimental effects we have on native birdlife are going
> to be hard to "fix". The cat one is relatively easy, I think. Let's just
> make it unfashionable for one to be seen out-of-doors.
>
> MiriamLDavey
> BatonRougeLA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: cats & birds
From: Elaine Kilgore <freespark(AT)HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 6:52pm
Miriam & All:
My fingers are poised above my keys. I ask myself do I "kick it up a
notch"? Can I be as eloquent? As profound? Do I need to be ? I think not.
I rise from my chair. I throw the cat out.
Elaine
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: visiting birder requests local guide
From: Jennifer Coulson <Jacoulson(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 7:49pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Dear LAbirders,
John Witschey is a birder from Clifton, Virginia, who will be visiting New
Orleans on a business trip. He plans to bird all day on Saturday, January
13th (next Saturday). He could rent a car and is happy to pay a guiding fee,
or just accompany a local birder to birding spots in LA and pay for gas.
If anyone is interested in birding with him/guiding him, please call or
e-mail John Witschey.
e-mail: witschey(AT)erols.com
home: (703) 222-2028
work: (703) 245-0533 (weekdays)
Thank you,
Jennifer Coulson
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: cats & birds - Elaine Kilgore's
From: "Maurice Duvic Sr." <jsb8(AT)WEBTV.NET>
Date: 5 Jan 2001 8:10pm
Elaine: "I throw the cat out!" Literally or figuratively?
Vic
Jackson, MS 392ll
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