We may have been prevented from ringing for over two months but there are still Linnets in circulation from earlier catches, birds that at later dates might deliver all manner of information. We received notification of one such individual.
It was 12 September 2021 along the Pilling/Cockerham coast that I ringed Linnet number AKN3729 as a juvenile/first autumn male. This was one of 7 Linnets caught that morning before I signed off for a two week holiday to Sunny Greece.
A few months later Linnet AKN3729 was recaptured on 30 January 2022, inland and almost due south at Fogg's Farm, Antrobus, Cheshire by members of Merseyside Ring Group; they were able to work their Fogg’s Farm site as normal while our own ringing was stalled because of avian flu.
Linnet - Cockerham, Lancashire - Antrobus, Cheshire
Linnet
Juvenile Linnets are known to disperse in a south and south westerly direction during the autumn period, some as far as France and Spain. We have no further sighting of AKN3792 so both its origins and eventual destination are unknown but the bird remains in circulation to provide more clues should it be found again.
Another recovery was more predictable – that of one of our ringed birds taken by a domestic cat.
A young female Greenfinch Ring number NF87535 ringed at Cockerham on 15 October 2021 was found freshly dead, taken by a cat, just 18 kms away, at Staining, Blackpool on 4 February 2022.
Greenfinch
Wonderly’s photo, “Caught by Cats,” recently won first place in the 2020 Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition’s Human/Nature category. His image highlights a grim picture.
Cat Kill - National Geographic
The photo would need to be multiplied 10 million times to come close to showing the billions of animals killed by cats each year.
A 2013 study estimated free-ranging domestic cats kill between 1.3 and 4 billion birds - on top of between 6.2 and 22.3 billion mammals every year in the United States alone, the majority by feral or unowned cats.
Figures released by the Mammal Society show the UK's estimates for domestic cat kills to be equally shocking: around 100 million prey items between Spring and Summer, of which 27 million were birds - and that’s not counting the creatures the cats didn't bring home.
But, according to the UK Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), there is no scientific evidence to link cats to bird population decline in the UK. I for one do not believe that, perhaps because RSPB members are also likely to be cat lovers?
The message is simple. Cat Lovers should not let their cat roam in the countryside, even in their own or neighbours’ garden where birds may feed.
And do not feed feral cats. Such kindness may be doing more harm than good.
Linking today to Eileen's Blogspot and Anni in Texas.
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14 comments:
We sadly have many wild cats around here but I think the birds (mostly) have got a signal between them that signifies 'get off the ground'. The last two bodies I have found in the garden I suspect were Sparrowhawk kills.
Keep safe and I hope you will be ringing again very soon. Diane
Hi Phil, You do have problems with your ringing. I don't have problems with cats on my patch I've engaged a team of foxes to take care of the abundance of cats. I used to have cats patroling my garden every night but the foxes dealt with the problem. Take care.
Mike.
Well, we can agree to disagree. Our birds are smarter than that. They get the odd one, but not a species in danger.
Data gathering continues despite the current ban on ringing. Of course, that bodes ill for future information as there will be a gap that analysts may not understand. Cold data may have a poor memory.
Cats.
There are two types of felines: Pets and wild. If one chooses to have a cat as a pet, be responsible. Keep it indoors and take good care of it. If you think the cat needs to be outdoors, then it is a wild cat. They will instinctively hunt. They will kill birds. They will not discriminate as to species. They will be subject to predation from other predators, including humans.
Do the right thing. Keeping a cat requires responsibility.
(Shoving soapbox back underneath the bed.)
Cool mornings here lately but sings of Spring abound!
Gini and I hope we all have a terrific birdy weekend!
Very interesting ^^
Hello Phil, I don't like to see stray cats in my garden. They not only eat birds, but one ate all the fish in the garden pond. One crawled up to my balcony only a few weeks ago, but there was not a bird in sight. Thank goodness! Although I knew that cats hunt birds, I didn't realise how many are killed, it's a staggering amount. Pet cat owners I know, take there cats for a walk on a leash, at least that way they are under control. Sorry to learn of the lengthy restriction still in place for bird ringing.
Have a good week.
No, Trudeau didn't run way. Fake News.
All cats, domestic or feral. Kill large quantities of wild songbirds. The evidence, scientific, unofficial and visual proves this.
The sad thing is, cat owners deny the evidence and refuse to do anything to help our wildlife.
Hello Phil, I believe you made a comment on my latest post, which I have not read. When I ticked to post it, your comment disappeared. a Tick is to post, not delete, so would you mind visiting again. I'm so sorry about this, it shouldn't have happened.
Hello Phil,
I wonder how any bird is surviving, between the avian flu and the cats. We hear about the window strikes too, they have started a lights out program.
We had a feral cat problem but luckily they seem to have disappeared. The cat kill image is grim. I do love your Greenfinch image, lovely bird. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend.
Cats are taking birds instead of mice? Here more cats get killed by stray dogs.
That's a good message. I hate to see any kind of feral animal in the wild...they scare me. Thanks for sharing this information!
Truthfully, I understand the situation, but for me personally, I have seen more HAWKS than cats catch & kill birds. No matter, each situation is a critical issue.
We birders enjoy your post. Learning along with your writing and stats. Thanks for taking time from your day to link in with us at I'd Rather be Birdin'. And happy day ahead!
Been Thinking About You Lately As Birds Are Once Again Migrating Through Colorado These Days - Sending Positive Vibes Your Way
Cheers
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