Cats Kill...

Well, here I am again...going on about outside cats. I used to have cats (but have developed an allergy,) and yes, some were outside cats. But, that was before I learned better; and I just read some new data. Cats are an invasive species and reek havoc on native wildlife. I started getting a clue that perhaps I should contain my pet when my cat, Spike, decided beheading my neighbor's tulips was great fun. He went right down the row; jumping on a beautiful flower, pulling it down and kicking it apart with his back legs as he chewed the petals off. Oh my he had fun...and made my neighbor so mad! Rightfully so; I got just as mad when my other neighbor's dog killed and buried Spike. So yes, through the years I've decided cats do belong indoors and have found even a feral kitten will make a fine, indoor pet.

The following includes bits and pieces of a recent article that came to my attention. As you read, remember that there are more owned cats than feral cats...and some 47% of owned cats are allowed outside...where they hunt. Much analysis is based on each cat killing only eight birds per year...and I'm sure we all know pets who bring home far more dead birds than that...not to mention mice, voles, lizards, and bats. Yes...even well-fed pets make a huge dent in local flora and fauna.

(Washington, D.C., December 8, 2010) A new, peer-reviewed study report titled, Feral Cats and Their Management from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, has put the annual economic loss from feral cat predation on birds in the United States at $17 billion. The report analyzes existing research on management of the burgeoning feral cat population – over 60 million and counting -- in the United States.

Feral cats are domestic cats that have gone wild. They cause significant losses to populations of native birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians; can transmit several diseases such as rabies and toxoplasmosis; and may be a general nuisance. Cats are the definitive host of the parasite taxoplasmosis; the disease can affect the brain, lung, heart, eyes, or liver. Serious consequences are evident in pregnant women as well as the young, the old, and those with compromised immune systems.

"Communities seeking a solution to their feral cat problems need to consider the science on the issue and the well being of animals impacted by feral cats as well as the cats themselves. These other animals – birds especially – don’t deserve to die at the hands of a predator introduced into their environment by irresponsible pet owners. A humane decision-making process on this issue must also recognize that feral cats live short, miserable lives because of disease, other predators, severe weather and traffic hazards. Thus their life expectancy is about one third as long as owned cats,” said Darin Schroeder, Vice President for Conservation Advocacy for American Bird Conservancy.

Some of the many findings of the report include:

• Feral cats are invasive and pose a threat to native fauna and public health.

• Three separate studies showed that most feral cats (62 to 80 percent) carry the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis – a condition of special concern to pregnant women.

• Cats are responsible for the extinction of at least 33 species of birds.

• Feral cats kill an estimated 480 million birds in the U.S. each year (the study did not address the question of bird predation by owned cats. Studies suggest that there are 80 million owned cats in the U.S. and that 43 percent have access to the outdoors. Total cat predation on birds is likely around one billion birds per year, though some analysis suggest much higher figures.)

• Cats kill far more native wildlife species than nuisance (invasive) species.

• Cats will kill wildlife no matter how well they are fed; they kill for sport & play.

• The life expectancy of a feral cat is 3-5 years as opposed to 15 years for owned cats, which sometimes live well into their twenties.

Feral cats are prolific breeders and can produce up to five litters per year. Females give birth to 2-10 kittens per litter. The Humane Society estimates that a pair of breeding cats and their offspring can produce over 400,000 cats in seven years under ideal conditions, assuming none die.

About 60 to 88 million cats are owned in the US and 60 million more are feral. Outdoor cats pose a serious threat to native wildlife, particularly birds. While the loss of habitat is the primary cause of species extinctions, cats are responsible for the extinction of at least 33 species of birds around the world. Cats kill an estimated 480 million birds around the world (assuming eight birds killed per feral cat per year). Estimates indicate that between 500-000 and 8 million birds are killed by rural cats each year...not counting damage by urban cats.

Proponents of feral cats and those who insist their cats should be allowed outdoors, suggest that well-fed cats do not prey on wildlife. Research shows that cats maintain their predatory instincts, no matter how well fed they are. The diets of well-fed house-based cats in Sweden consisted of 15-90% native prey, depending on availability.

Cats are opportunistic hunters, taking any small animal available, such as pheasants, quail, grouse, turkeys and waterfowl. They also impact free-ranging chickens and other domestic fowl. Cat owners should be aware that feral cats also kill pet house-cats that are allowed outside.

Feral cats pose risks to public health and safety. Unlike owned cats that are required by law to be vaccinated; few feral cats are. Feral cats can transmit diseases to humans and other cats, including cat scratch fever, plague, rabies, ringworm, salmonellosis and taxoplasmosis. In fact, in 3 separate studies 62-80% of feral cats tested positive for taxoplasmosis...a disease of serious concern for pregnant women as well as older and younger members of the population.

As a cat owner who used to let cats roam, I had no idea that people have to fence cats out of their gardens and children's sand boxes for reasons other than just being a picky. Cats cause problems when they defecate in food-growing gardens, not to mention the unsightly damage they cause when murdering tulips. Seriously, even if you believe your cat doesn't poop in the kiddies sandbox, please consider what it contributes to in dead wildlife...for the fun of it.

Read the entire article is HERE. Photos from Wikipedia.

The Domestic Cat Gone Wild

What can we do to help? I believe we should talk about it. This is not unlike people who continue to keep ‘outdoor cats’; yeah, I used to be one too. I know (now) that ignorance is bliss. Cats are imports; like some snakes, starlings, rats and rabbits…they were brought to a new world (our country) from far away…some few hundred years ago. They are an invasive species. Who knew?

The local environment, both flora and fauna, have not been able to adapt quickly enough to these exquisite predators. And they are exquisite hunters. A pet cat can, and on average does, kill a bird a day…including well fed cats. Cats kill birds, mice and lizards for sport. Cats make a huge dent on the environment; taking a good deal of food from the native creatures. It is no wonder our hawks and owls are disappearing. It sounds illogical, till one thinks about it. There are hundreds of millions of cats and our song-birds are disappearing to cats, in the hundreds of millions per year! Do the math…

Loose cats spread disease, poop in our gardens and sand boxes; make children sick who play in said gardens and sand boxes, fight and get hurt, are attacked by dogs and wild creatures and suffer, get hit by cars, die horrible deaths and leave us sad when they die.

Are cats more important than birds? You may believe the 'natural' life (outdoors) of your cat is far more important than any ol' bird. Consider that all birds are our canaries-in-the-coal-mine. They are supreme indicators of the health of our home, workplace and of our entire environment.

In some places, bird-watching (the fastest growing sport these days), is imperative to the local economy. Birds, like some bats, bees and insects are important to pollination; to the growth of our food. And they belong here; they're native. They feed on and live to feed other native creatures.

I believe sooner than later, we will have to keep cats under control; on a leash or in a cat-run when outside. I’m all for it. Quite frankly, I’ve lost too many of my own cats to dogs and automobiles…would I have a cat today, it would be a 100% indoor cat. And it would live so much longer. The National Audubon Society has declared that “Worldwide, cats may have been involved in the extinction of more bird species than any other cause, except habitat destruction.” Jim Stevenson, former science teacher and director of the Galveston Ornithological Society and publisher of the quarterly newspaper Gulls n Herons is one of my heroes.

Loose dogs make me sad, too...but that's another story.

If you are interested in reading more, click the word 'Cats' in the list of labels just below this post.

Fledglings

My yard is full of fledglings; young birds that have recently left the nest. Parents bring them here, where the livin' is easy. I like to think I give them a head-start into the real world. Birds don't have it easy these days.

Five or six black-backed Lessar Goldfinch are also visiting again. I swear they remind me of sleek seals; so dark on top and bright yellow below...with a bit of white on their wings.

Stunning little birds; nearly half an inch smaller than American Goldfinches and about half the weight. I love it when they visit. Most of the shots here are from Wikipedia or BirdFreak's site, but my favorite is from this blog. It's amazing what one finds just Googling a bird!

Or click here to get to the specific page where I found the photo.

You can see that it is really quite easy to tell an American Goldfinch from a Lesser Goldfinch (be they green- or black-backed)...as long as you are discussing males. Females...not so easy; at least for me.

This is a female American Goldfinch, according to the photographer. In my mind it could be a young male or non-breeding American Goldfinch, or a female Lesser Goldfinch. I still do not have the eyes to see; apparently one has more yellow at certain times of the year...but who and when?

I have much to learn!

Now that natural food (bugs) are more plentiful, I've cut back a bit on the number of feeders I keep full. Thank the gods that the grackles, black-birds and cow-birds are here in greatly reduced numbers, too; partly because the feeders I've left up are difficult for them to feed from and some contain only safflower seed. All the grosbeaks love safflower seed, and some of the other birds too...but not the Icterids so much.

I still put out peanuts for the jays and magpies...which draw the blasted black birds back in. Ugh! Anyway, it is hilarious to watch a young magpie discover peanuts-in-the-shell. As you know, young birds are nearly full-grown when they fledge...but regardless of their size, they are babies. So, these big lunkers land on the feeder and pick through the peanuts...all the while squacking and whining for their parents. They flap their wings and assume that begging position, as if to say "I can't open it...how do ya open 'em; show me how to open 'em!" Too funny.

And grapes. I put out bunches of old grapes I get (discounted) and have discovered American Robins will actually come to feeders for them. That's a first, to see a robin at the feeders. They sure do like grapes, but they are most unhappy that the magpies come, too. I regularly watch one or two robins mix it up with a magpie; harassing and dive-bombing them; finally driving them out of the yard while they fly behind in hot pursuit. This morning, I realized why; there are several full-grown, but spotted and streaky young robins hunting on the grass. Now that the grapes are gone (for now), mom is teaching them the grape jelly is pretty good, too. Who knew?

In the early evenings I see swallows and Common Nighthawks. I really cannot identify the swallows...as high and fast as they fly, all I know is that they are swallows. What I did identify though...and all by myself (!) were several Common Nighthawks.

They fly like big, clumsy bats; probably why they are called Bull Bats, but the identifying marks are the white patches just below the 'wrist'. This patch is nowhere near the wing-tips as in a Lesser Nighthawk...which don't frequent this area, anyway. As thrilled as I was to ID a bird myself...it was an easy mark. I love both of these beautiful paintings of this bird. How many can you find in the one on the left? The Fuertes portrait shows how these birds are expertly camouflaged, while the one by Hines shows how wide a mouth these birds sport. I used to see them all the time on the dirt roads up by the cabin where I lived here in Huerfano County; lying on the roads there is a bad habit they have...if I do say so myself.

Today I have been watching lots of fledglings. Young robins have blotchy, streaky bodies and look pretty much like a whole different bird...one with a 'tortishell tummy'.

There are a very many House Sparrows youngsters...birds which generally I don't see many of in my yard. But right now they all have so many mouths to feed...they bring them here. For all their evil ways, they are good parents...which is perhaps why they are so successful an invader.

Also exhibiting good parenting skills are House Finches...who have to put up with the most insistent, badgering youngsters I've ever seen. These babies don't just sit and wait, they chase and harass their parents non-stop. At least the males are right in there with the domestic duties. These three mouths belong to young blue birds, also excellent parents.

One way to tell that a bird is young is by the shorter tail, though it does grow in quite fast. Another is by the downy feathers that seem to stick out here and there, not unlike the cow-lick on a young boy. The surest way, for me, is to look at their mouths. When very young, the inside of a bird's mouth, or gape, is quite bright; yellow or even red...an easy mark for the parent often feeding young in a darken place. The wider a mouth opens, the more likely it is to be filled. In a young bird the upper and lower mandibles are thick and somewhat fleshy looking; like lips. As the bird ages, even by the time it leaves the nest and becomes a 'brancher' (hoping about the branches of the nest-tree for a few days before it flies), this changes as the bill hardens. This illustration from the Illinois Raptor Center shows this well:

This is a nestling and...

this is a brancher.

By the time the bird fully fledges and leaves its parents for good...its bill will look like that of an adult. You can still see the short tail and youthful bill of these young magpies.

Generally, I don't recognize first year birds...if they are much different than their adults; and many are. I just assume I'm looking at a 'different' bird. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are an exception...well, at least the males are. The red on their heads begins forward, and gradually 'moves' to the back of the head. They are adorable, especially when still a bit fluffy from the nest. I've never seen a parent feeding a youngster at my feeders.

What I imagine are very young White-breasted Nuthatches are those with ill-marked coloring. Not unlike a young White-crowned Sparrow whose head goes through a blurry, 'checkered' look before exhibiting that beautiful, clear black and white; I think the striking white head and wide black head-strip from bill to nape on a young bird is also a bit 'blurry' compared to the crisp lines of adults. They hunt along the fences, the stakes keeping my dog out of my young shrubs and also come to the feeders. However, just like a youngster might, they are hesitant and timid. They look around before they begin picking at seeds. Parents always seem to be on a mission; in and out...quickly.

Early last April, a lovely biologist/birder/

environmentalist/teacher from the La Junta area, Duane Nelson was at my home to see Rosy-Finches. Oddly, while here he ran into two other biologist/birder/guides; Tammy and Ira from the Denver area. They are friends of his. Ira is the one who pointed out the first yellow-shafted Northern Flicker I ever saw...right here in my yard; it's a small world. Already feeling tickled pink to have met three more fascinating and knowledgeable people right in my own home, Duane pointed out another first...the Red-breasted Nuthatch. He said he imagines I've always had them. I imagine I might have seen them and dismissed them as badly-viewed Mountain Chickadees. Here are two pictures that compare these birds. Oddly, I only saw them another day or so and certainly have not yet seen any youngsters. But then I haven't seen any chickadees of late except one...badly seen, just the other day. Might it have been one of the Red-breasted Nuthatches?

Speaking of fledglings. Many of us have come upon young birds that sort of 'freeze' when we come close. Some folks think that means they are tame, or perhaps injured...but it does not. Still birds attract little attention. Cats however, skulking along low on the ground, find them easily. As much as I like cats, I look forward to the day with they must be kept inside or in 'cat-runs'...or on leash. There are so many loose and feral cats that they are seriously decimating our song bird populations. And those populations are already under siege from fractured habitat, wall-to-wall lawns, poisons and climate change. A single hunting cat may only catch a few dozen birds and mice (also removing bird and other creature's food suply) over a year's time...but multiply that by the thousands upon thousands of cats that hunt and you must realize cats are responsible for as many as a million birds per year. It's astounding.

Fledgling birds are ideal prey

for many small predators, including cats.

In this case, prompt demise of the bird

was only prevented by the fact

that the cat was held back on a leash.

More on Outdoor Cats

Thank you to SeEtta over at Birds and Nature for making me aware of this new clip. You all must know how I feel about this serious problem...and that I tend to be a bit off-putting with my passion against outdoor cats. Yes, I used to have cats and I still like them...but should I ever have another cat, it will be an inside cat. It's just the responsible way to behave. Having said that, this clip is gentler...I hope it works.

Thank you to the American Bird Conservancy for this important information: if we are to save our birds, we need to remove outside cats! As SeEtta also pointed out, you can find more information here.

I don't know why the clip is so large; it won't fit here. Just click on the movie again, immediately after it starts, and you'll get to watch it at YouTube the way it's meant to be seen.



I was thinking about how we cat owners like to allow our cats outside and thought how cool it would be to build an outdoor exercize area built up against the house where one could open a window to let the cat into the screened area outside. Yeah, keep the cat in the 'cage'; it'd work! It could be large, with a climbing pole and fun stuff inside (including an easy to clean litter box)...but built to keep birds out. Perfect, huh? I like it.

A Public Service Announcement about Feral Cats and Outdoor Pets

■ The domestic cat is a prolific hunter of birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. When a cat is employed to keep pests at bay, know that it is also harming native wildlife. Keeping a cat well-fed does not stop it from hunting. In fact, results of a study published in 2004 by Hawkins, et al. stated: The presence of homeless house cats that received supplemental food had a negative impact on native California rodents and birds and yet... the house-mouse was found to be more abundant in areas where cats were being fed.

■ Furthermore, cats are the only species to shed the parasite toxoplasma gondii in their feces. According to the CDC, this parasite can live in the environment for many months and contaminate soil, water, fruits and vegetables, sandboxes, grass where animals graze for food or any place where an infected cat may have defecated (your garden…your kid’s sandbox…the grammar school play ground?) Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by this parasite and can cause severe illness in infants infected before birth (when their mothers are newly infected during pregnancy), or in persons who have a weakened immune system. That would be why pregnant women are cautioned not to clean the family pet’s litter-box! Cats get Toxoplasma infection by eating infected rodents, birds or other small animals, or anything contaminated by feces from another cat that is releasing the parasite.

■ Don’t use pesticides and don’t rely on cats. Use natural predators, make your home inviting to owls and hawks and keep it inhospitable to mice and rats. For help, read: Minimizing Mouse Madness, perhaps erect a 15’ platform on which birds of prey can perch to hunt and don’t kill snakes, which are excellent mousers. Feeding pets outdoors actually attracts unwanted pests like rats, raccoons, skunks, possums, wild dogs, and nuisance birds which can run off cats and harass grazing animals.

■ Outdoor cats are short lived cats, vulnerable to internal parasites such as roundworm and hookworm and external parasites such as fleas and ticks and may be exposed to fatal feline diseases and predation by foxes, coyotes, loose dogs, and death by automobile. Domestic companion animals permitted to roam freely are not safe themselves and are more apt to carry diseases that are transferable to humans. Responsible pet owners keep their cats indoors for the protection of the felines and the preservation of wildlife. It’s fine that some cats are kept as working cats or barn cats or mousers, but they should be kept indoors. Cats are not wildlife and their home is not outdoors. I like cats; keep yours safe! The average lifespan of a feral cat, if it survives kittenhood, is less than two years. An indoor cat will stay healthier and can live sixteen years or more. I've known many that live well into their mid-twenties.

If you think that merely having a pet neutered or spayed before letting it outside is the answer, or that the infamous Trap-Neuter-Release policy is a good idea, visit this facinating page: Trap-Neuter-Release Reality Check. It's full of excellent information you might consider.

All photos on this post are from the free Wikipedia.

"My Cat Catches Bats..."

What does one say to a neighbor who tells you that?

I was chatting with a neighbor, an older man, who had commented on the joy he found in watching at least 50 hummingbirds at my feeders. He thought it was great that I fed them, said he used to but gave up when doing so attracted bears.

When the topic leaned to the problems of bird-feeding, I started on the whole cat-as-predator thing; that domestic and feral cats could be the single most responsible problem for our disappearing birds...songbird and otherwise. I figured he’d seen me walk across my yard with a trap while he was working on the roof of his barn just behind my place; but I was reluctant to mention it.

“Yeah, he said…she doesn’t eat ‘em; just brings them home and leaves them on the step. Just about every night…one bat,” he seemed to say proudly.

I asked him to keep his cat in at night, but he told me no, he didn’t like cats in the house. I carefully injected that some cat had had a litter of kittens in my woodpile and I was out to catch them. I left it at that…but he told me his son used to just shoot squirrels with a BB gun. Well, until the game warden came by complaining about somebody who brought in a squirrel that had ten BBs in it. I told him I wasn’t a good enough shot to go shooting things; especially with some guy working in his yard right across the way! He just laughed and said I couldn’t be that bad… but never asked what I plan to do with cats I catch.

I like cats, I’ve had cats, but if ever I get another cat, I will be a responsible cat owner and keep the cat indoors. They don’t belong loose.

I like bats, too…and with the White Nose Syndrome going on; it seems that they, too, are catching it bad both left and right. If you need to get rid of bats, there is a humane way to do it! I wouldn't want them in my house, either; but considering the diseases brought by mosquitoes (West Nile is a piece o'cake) and knowing each bat eats at least half it's weight in bugs per night...I like the idea that they are around here.

And please, just keep your cats indoors. It's safer for the cats, too.

A Couple of Firsts: A Flycatcher and a Toad.

Wait...that would be TWO Flycatchers, wouldn't it? LOL

Such a lovely day, I worked in the yard most of the day…planted a tree and a large bush yesterday, today pulled weeds and watered some; got some stuff to plant some new own-root roses. And I found my first toad! I wonder if I uncovered the little bugger; he could have been underground…I’m just happy I didn’t stab him with the garden fork! He was so cute, smaller than an egg.

At first I just moved him to a place I was finished working on…and then realized I should take pictures of him. I caught him again…he promptly peed in my hand…and took him with me while I went off for my camera. I put him in a deep bowl (I finally ran out of mealworms and had tossed the oats and cornmeal for the critters outside and had the container empty in the sink) while I washed my hands and then picked up the camera and my now, hopefully, empty toad and headed back into the yard for a photo shoot.

I suppose I should have looked more at the little guy…I have no idea what kind of a toad he is! Still, I put him back where I found him, took a couple pictures while he decided which way to go and then found a shallow, plastic saucer and sunk it in the ground nestled under the same Peony bush where the adventure started. When I got it filled with water, I added a nice rock. I’ve finally figured out the big ol’ red-butt bumblebees in my yard need a way to climb out of water dishes! Then I finished and cleaned up the garden bed and watered. First time I’ve watered a lawn in some years…hey, this is Colorado high desert; I try to go xeric. Besides, I live by the river where the water table is less than three feet down. Still, with a birding group coming next week I figured I’d try to keep the birds interested another week.

I’d been thinking how discouraging it was to have had so many birds in my yard for the past couple of months and lately things are slowing down. Just in time for the Bird Walk! Bah… So while I sat mulling over what I could do to keep the birds happy I noticed a different looking thing on the clothesline across the yard. It was smaller than a Sparrow but larger than a Siskin and with a pale belly; sans any streaking. I grabbed the binoculars and watched it for several minutes. It was a fly-catcher of some kind…definitely had the tail-flicking going and that straight, little beak. This guy was nearly all-over grey with the palest of wing-bars and a darker grey cap-look to the top of his head almost like if he raised it he’d have a crest. While I watched him, trying to note every possible field mark before I lost him, he flitted to the grass, caught a bug and went right back to the same place. I couldn’t stand it and went for the camera; he flew off. I saw him again about an hour later, same spot. Still no camera handy, so I just watched as he’d fly down and nearly hover over the grass for a second or two, most likely catching flies, huh…and then go right back to the same spot. I’m thinking he could have been a Western Wood-Pewee but that bird seems to have wings that are darker; a Gray Flycatcher but that bird seems to have more pronounced wing-bars or perhaps an Eastern Phoebe, though that bird’s face seems darker so that the ‘cap’ doesn’t stand out as much. So, a First…I just don’t know its name!

There has been a Black-billed Magpie who visits regularly and goes straight for the suet. Today he brought another; they looked like a couple of professional basketball players at a grade school. Talk about big and beautiful…

One Black-headed Grosbeak also visited while I watched; that was good to see. On fast glance I used to get confused between those and the Bullock’s Orioles who continue to come for jelly; but the spotted backs are a give-away. I wonder if an Orchard Oriole has been in my yard and I just didn’t realize it.

And then a neighbor’s cat came and snagged yet another bird. I only saw it leave with the prize and saw the flat-bed feeder swinging wildly. I feel conflicted about wanting to be so green and full of conservation and yet still wanting to shoot cats. [sigh]. The cat got an Evening Grosbeak. They are still here by the dozens; I can only assume they’re nesting. It galls me no end. Could this be karma for my cat years ago who loved to attack my neighbor’s tulip-heads just as they opened? I swear I’ll never have an out-door cat again. And I've done something about that feeder, too.

While watching the flashy, yellow and black Lesser Goldfinches I realized I had two to three Hummingbirds sitting at every feeder I could see. And I thought there were fewer birds lately…

Bugs Catch and Eat Birds?

Who knew Preying Mantis eat hummingbirds? I sure didn’t. Click here for an astounding story with a couple very interesting, if somewhat gruesome pictures.

Okay, I’m a Googler; look what I found: a video clip of the same trick and another here where the big bug catches and eats a mouse! Sheeshhh!

Ya know, I might have nightmares…

I've been having a hard time at home these days; birds are regularly hitting my new kitchen window. I finally hung bird netting over the thing, not tight...but wrinkled, bent and moving a bit in the breeze. It's helping. Good lord, I was finding several every weekend; the only reason I didn't come home to the poor things at night is a cat has figured out where to get an easy meal. Ugg... I feel so irresponsible! I know full well that when I heard that sickening thump and went out to find a bird on the ground, keeping it safe for an hour or so till it could fly does not mean the poor thing lived. Generally they just fly off and die anyway. It's too sad.

When I lived off grid, I had the two feral cats that lived up there spayed and neutered and still felt horrible the number of birds the two of them caught and ate. If I ever keep another cat, it will be an indoor cat! I'd always understood that the main reason our song-birds are disappearing was domestic cats, but recently read windows are another huge contributor. It's the reflection, of course. Here are some disappointing stats regarding how many birds we kill annually. Hold on to your hats...

However, I've discovered some really cool stuff: a film ya put on the window which looks like a shade from the outside, but which you can see through from the inside! I've contacted the company and plan to buy the stuff as soon as I can. You can read all about the easy-to-install stuff here, and order it here; it keeps UV-rays down, too.

Speaking of bird fatalities, I've always enjoyed very dark dark. I am not a fan of 'light polution' but I had no idea it killed birds. This is such an easy fix; point lights down, keep the voltage low, turn them off at night. This is a quote from http://www.flap.org/ (Fatal Light Awareness Program)

Bird mortality at human-built structures receives relatively little public attention, but structural hazards are actually responsible for more bird kills than higher profile catastrophes such as oil spills.

Human-built structures have been recognized as a hazard to birds for more than a century. However, the accelerated rate of urban development in recent years has seen the proliferation of radio and television towers, office buildings, power lines, cooling towers, emission stacks, and residential housing, all of which represent an increasing threat to flying birds.

In the dark, and especially in foggy or rainy weather, the combination of glass and light becomes deadly. Confused by artificial lights, blinded by weather, and unable to see glass, birds by the hundreds and even thousands can be injured or killed in one night at one building. Over 140 different species of birds have collided with buildings in Toronto alone. One expert estimates that across North America, up to 100 million birds die in collisions each year. Many species that collide frequently are known to be in long-term decline and some are already designated officially as threatened. Compared to habitat loss, pollution, and over-hunting, the issue of building collisions is neither well-known nor adequately understood. Yet across North America, more birds die from collisions each year than succumbed to the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Birds migrating at night are strongly attracted to, or at least trapped by, sources of artificial light, particularly during periods of inclement weather. Approaching the lights of lighthouses, floodlit obstacles, ceilometers (light beams generally used at airports to determine the altitude of cloud cover), communication towers, or lighted tall buildings, they become vulnerable to collisions with the structures themselves. If collision is avoided, birds are still at risk of death or injury. Once inside a beam of light, birds are reluctant to fly out of the lighted area into the dark, and often continue to flap around in the beam of light until they drop to the ground with exhaustion. A secondary threat resulting from their aggregation at lighted structures is their increased vulnerability to predation. The difficulty of finding food once trapped in an urban environment may present an additional threat.

I really hope you consider this stuff.