Cat-friendly ways to protect fledglings and birds
We hope those who took part in No Mow May enjoyed watching the bees and other pollinators feasting on the wild flowers in your patch. Even though May is over, you can still leave your lawn unmown to extend the wildlife benefits…Welcome to ‘Let it Bloom in June!’
Allowing seed heads to form brings extra food for our birds to enjoy – for example, Goldfinches feed almost exclusively on seeds. With the longer grass, however, there is one element of the wildlife garden that is not so welcome: your domestic cat, that may be lurking, ready to pounce on an unsuspecting bird. Many of us are both wildlife lovers and cat lovers of course.
With the nesting season still in full swing, fledglings are particularly vulnerable to predators, and most cat-owners have had the upsetting experience of our beloved pets killing or maiming songbirds and their young.
But did you know cat owners can take 4 simple steps to substantially reduce the risk of their cat hunting and killing fledglings and adult birds?
- Play with your cat! Just five to ten minutes of play with your cat every day reduces prey brought home by 25%. Your cat will be happier and more stimulated so less likely to go hunting.
- We all know how fussy cats are – feeding your cat with meat-rich protein foods rather than foods based on plant sources can reduce the amount of prey brought home by 36%. Your cat will thank you too!
- Many owners fit a collar with a bell – but evidence reveals that bright colours are more effective at warning birds than sounds. Brightly coloured ruffle-type collars have been shown to reduce birds captured by 40%. The collars are quick release, so if your cat gets the collar snagged, they won’t get hurt. You can buy the collars from Ebay, Etsy or make them easily yourself.
- If possible, keep your cat safely indoors at night, at least during the bird breeding season (February to July). Night time is when cats tend to wander and most hunting takes place.
Good luck trying these tips out, and, for those of you continuing with the ‘no mowing’ theme, enjoy the wild flowers and wildlife in your mini-meadows! And, of course, if you’re really keen, there’s also ‘Knee High in July’…!
This advice comes from Songbird Survival’s research project: Cats, Their Owners, and The Environment. For more information please visit: www.songbird-survival.org.uk
Find out more about wildlife friendly gardening by visiting: https://renaturingseaford.org/a-metre-square-for-wildlife
Join us in our journey to increase biodiversity in Seaford: www.seafuture.org/on-the-verge
First published in Seaford Scene.
