Birds and Cats in the ’Hood

This column may be troubling, but I promised you I’d warn you.

Be warned.

The grandbabies were here and my attention got diverted from the wrens in our front-door Christmas wreath. They appeared to be nesting but we were keeping our distance so as not to scare them off. We put a sawhorse across the front walk with a note attached, asking visitors to come into the house by way of the garage.

One day Dave took a surreptitious peek and confirmed that the neatly molded cup of pine straw and Spanish moss was indeed a nest. We watched from the window in Dave’s workshop as the wrens took turns brooding. When the weather took a sudden cold spell, Dave watched until he knew neither bird was there, and slipped a finger into the nest. He came back grinning like a prospective grandfather: There were three eggs in the hollow, and they were warm.

We were glad Jean was present with her trusty camera to capture images of the quick parent birds, bringing food in and taking fecal sacks out, always on the move, always looking over their shoulders for their own safety and that of their chicks – with good reason. Despite their parents’ warning, babies this young do occasionally chirp and wriggle in the nest. It doesn’t take much for the neighborhood cats to figure out where they could find lunch.

In two of the photos you can see the yawning gapes of the hungry babies. We were glad for the photos, for that is all we have of the tenuous life in the Christmas wreath.

On a Sunday morning after Easter, when we came home from church, we found the wreath empty, and a scattering of pine straw and Spanish moss on the stone path below it.

One of the free-running cats in our cul de sac disappeared around the corner of the house as we stood there grieving. In a nearby tree, a Carolina wren was giving her “churr, churr” call, the call she would have used to round up the chicks she expected to fledge in just a few days.

The chicks were torn to pieces by a cat left outside by its owner.

We had talked with a neighbor some time ago, informing her that there is a city ordinance that cats may not run loose in Peachtree City, any more than dogs. She didn’t believe me until she researched it and found out I knew whereof I spoke.

In a quick Google this evening, I found that the current estimate is that cats (domestic as well as feral) kill over 1 billion birds each year in the United States, a greater number than those killed by cars, glass walls, windmills, plus other accidents and coyotes. (Yes, we have coyotes here, Virginia, and their number is growing.)

Arguments that this is part of the natural order of things fizzle when one learns that cats are not native to North America, hence the balancing act between species does not apply. The downside of adopting a cat, then letting it roam, is that cats are subject to predation and disease themselves.

Additionally, nearly every native bird species is federally protected in the U.S. It’s interesting to note that mere possession of the flight feathers of hawks and owls is against federal law.

We have had cats all our married life, until about two years ago. We regret to confess now that we were not always as responsible as we should have been. If we get another cat, it will be strictly an indoor pet, and probably a dog.

And the cats that roam our cul de sac? They tell me there is a waiting list to borrow a cat trap from the shelter.

I’m patient. I can wait.

* * *

Note: In last week’s column, I unintentionally low-balled the city’s population in 1971. Should have been nearer 850.

Loose Cats (part-time toilet functions)

Submitted by Bonkers on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 8:05am.

The human mind of a cat lover says that their cat does no harm and has every right to wander, especially at night, to do its business--whatever that might be.
The damage done by these creatures in toto is staggering. Scratched warm car hoods, flower gardens foulded and messes scratched everywhere, not to mention the amount of death they execute.

They are like children to the owners (when desired) but can be left in a cat-house for days or weeks at the owner's discretion. Can't do that to children! Often left alone with a "feed and water" person occasionally.

Dogs and cats are outside animals--not tethered but fenced in.

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Attention Cal & Company 6

Submitted by Git Real on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 12:23pm.

Here's another Cal & Company. Just kidding, just kidding...it's only Dollar Bonker$. Welcome back oldtimer.

Visualizing Obama's Budget Cuts

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