Speaking of cartdinals

[quercus alba]

Dog and I took a walk this morning about 4:45. 13 degrees - 6-7" of fresh powder - barred owl was hollering - dog put up a pheasant.. Probably be the best part of the whole freaking day. ;) Oh, just counted over 60 cardinals at the feeder - 8 blue jays - a dozen doves - and dozens and dozens of LBBs (little brown birds).



I have seen a marked decrease in the birds at my feeders over the last few years. Several other people I converse with all say the same thing. I've read that feral cats are really hurting the songbird population in certain areas, others say insecticides and herbicides are the main cause.

Any of you experiencing this (HH is obviously not) bird decrease

[Buckrub]

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/science-nature/feral-cats-kill-billions-of-small-critters-each-year-7814590/

[Cards01]

they have reported to spring training

[Buckrub]

Wano got problems again.

[Cards01]

said no big deal after test today said abdominal strain 4-5 days and should be back to full workout

[Big Skyz]

I say we all go out and kill 100 house/feral cats each, this year, and see if it makes any difference in the bird population. You know, all in the name of science. ;)

[Buckrub]

I'll start in Florida........

[Thumper]

I'm tellin' Lynn!! ;)

[Captain]

A hundred is about what I do now.
😎

[Chicken Dinner]

I'll start in Florida........

Bam!

[Big Skyz]

Captain I'm just trying to get everyone else on board with us. It's so hard to help others become forward thinkers like you and I. :)

[Arty]

Just be careful not to graze thumpers neck when you shoot the one off his shoulder. :)

[Captain]

Captain I'm just trying to get everyone else on board with us. It's so hard to help others become forward thinkers like you and I. :)

True, feeding the cat means something different to them than it does me and you.....

[Captain]

Just be careful not to graze thumpers neck when you shoot the one off his shoulder. :)

His neck is no problem, but I can't promise about not grazing that nose! 😛

[BarryBobPosthole]

We've had an uptick in cardinals but the hawks have put a beatdown on the birds and squirrels in our area the last year or so. They are some patrolling bastages, especially right now. I figure there's poults right now.

BKB

[HideHunter]

I actually get more birds every year.. But, I have expanded my feeding operation a bit each year... and ... I have an on-going "predator control" program.. As in .. rifle sits by backdoor nearly 365 days a year.

[BarryBobPosthole]

I practically quit feeding for a couple years because of a damned rat pack of sparrows that kicked several pounds of bird seed out on the ground. They've pretty much left my area since I stopped feeding but they're out there lurking.

BKB

[Thumper]

I practically quit feeding for a couple years because of a damned rat pack of sparrows that kicked several pounds of bird seed out on the ground. They've pretty much left my area since I stopped feeding but they're out there lurking.

BKB

Want me to send you a cat? :D

[Chicken Dinner]

I don't need feral cats. My Brit does a pretty good job of policing the back yard bird population. He doesn't eat them, he just "plays" with them until they go to "sleep"...

[BarryBobPosthole]

I don't need feral cats. My Brit does a pretty good job of policing the back yard bird population. He doesn't eat them, he just "plays" with them until they go to "sleep"...

There is a pair of white trash doves (just look at any dove nest and you'll agree with that description) that has nested in the same low branches of the same pine for the past several years in my back yard. Each year, when the chicks are born, one of my springers climbs up in the tree (doesn't take much) and knocks the nest down and eats the babies. Do the doves learn? Hell no. Darwin at work.

BKB

[Big Muddy]

Funny ya'll should mention birds....last night, my uncle-in-law in Meeker, Okla. sent me this pic of the birds around his feeders....looks like an abundance of them out there....look right above his red feeder.

I told him that looked like a real good bait site for killing cats....I don't think his wife liked my comment !!! ;)


4372

[Buckrub]

There is a pair of white trash doves (just look at any dove nest and you'll agree with that description) that has nested in the same low branches of the same pine for the past several years in my back yard. Each year, when the chicks are born, one of my springers climbs up in the tree (doesn't take much) and knocks the nest down and eats the babies. Do the doves learn? Hell no. Darwin at work.

BKB

Thus, the old adage "Birdbrain"...........

[quercus alba]

The bible even speaks of the intelligence of the dove:

Hosea 7:11: <i>Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.</i>

[Captain]

Big Sky does running over a cat with your truck count? If so mark me down for one at about 12:30 today... dde19

[Big Skyz]

Yes, and give yourself a cyber HIGH FIVE from me! :) :) :)