Your checklist of gear made me think of the opposite: what not to have in the garden/neighbourhood, ie, cats 😬 Back in the dog days, no cats dared come near our garden, but now they do, and I notice a decline in bird visitors. I mean: I like cats. But too: I love birds. We used to get so many robins and blackbirds and tits of various types.
That's terrible. I like cats too! But they are devastating to wildlife/ecosystems. Billions of birds killed annually by domesticated cats. It's not controversial that they should be indoors, or at least it shouldn't be. Better for nature, better for cats.
I’m the co-chair of the bird team as part of a bird-friendly city initiative in Ontario (https://naturecanada.ca/defend-nature/how-you-help-us-take-action/bfc/) in which businesses that sell bird-friendly coffee will get you credit toward that moniker. With any luck, we’ll have city council approval within the year!
I love the question of what we do that's good for birds. I will have to ponder it. For one, our house is powered by green energy, which is good for birds, and almost all my clothes are thrifted, which more indirectly is also good for birds. Can't wait to hear what others do that's good for birds, and to keep Birding with you, BillBow!
I'm grateful to read your writing again, Nate - thanks! I learn a lot from you and your perspective on the world!
Steven Wordsmith Lincoln! Thank you for subscribing!!! What's happening in your world these days? Still in CO?
Your checklist of gear made me think of the opposite: what not to have in the garden/neighbourhood, ie, cats 😬 Back in the dog days, no cats dared come near our garden, but now they do, and I notice a decline in bird visitors. I mean: I like cats. But too: I love birds. We used to get so many robins and blackbirds and tits of various types.
That's terrible. I like cats too! But they are devastating to wildlife/ecosystems. Billions of birds killed annually by domesticated cats. It's not controversial that they should be indoors, or at least it shouldn't be. Better for nature, better for cats.
I hear ya. I read some awful statistic - up to 70 million birds are killed by cats every year in the UK.
Sorry! Bit of a downer at the beginning of your paeans to birds. Long may you fly!
Not at all! It's a serious issue that needs discussed. Unfortunately, many outdoor cat people have their heels deeply dug in.
Cats = not good for birds, but good for the soul. Unless you're allergic like me! Not that my soul is allergic to them as a far as I know!
Love this post, Nate! Hoping to learn a bit about birds by reading. And be reminded to clean my feeder. 😬
Thank youuu! I think most if us clean them less frequently than we should
Don't worry about the disinterest of your demon spawn. Appreciation of birds is like enjoying classical music - it tends to blossom and grow with age.
Took me 45 years to REALLY get into it. As long as one of them engages before I croak.
I’m the co-chair of the bird team as part of a bird-friendly city initiative in Ontario (https://naturecanada.ca/defend-nature/how-you-help-us-take-action/bfc/) in which businesses that sell bird-friendly coffee will get you credit toward that moniker. With any luck, we’ll have city council approval within the year!
I love the question of what we do that's good for birds. I will have to ponder it. For one, our house is powered by green energy, which is good for birds, and almost all my clothes are thrifted, which more indirectly is also good for birds. Can't wait to hear what others do that's good for birds, and to keep Birding with you, BillBow!
You enable my habit. That's good for birds!
There you go. I'm a birding-enabler!