Gray Catbird 2011

A new yard bird!  This handsome Gray Catbird arrived this morning, the first time I have observed GRCA in the yard.  Like many other birds, they enjoy scratching through the leaf-litter, so it's best to leave some leaves for them in your yard.  The Gray Catbird gets its name from the "mewing" call that it gives from the secrecy of shrubs.  Unfortuately, cats are a serious threat to them. 

These common birds are declining (50% in the past 50 years).  One of the main reasons for the decline is predation by domestic cats.  Outdoor cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year.  Many bird species are under increasing pressures such as habitat loss, pesticides, window and tower collisions, mineral and gas exploration, and climate change.  But one of the biggest threats is outdoor cats.  It is also one of the easiest threats to reduce: KEEP CATS INDOORS.

For more information on the impact of domestic cats on wild birds, check out this video (http://www.youtube.com/abcbirds#p/u/1/-fvN7FNUPas) and the resources from the American Bird Conservancy.