Caution Thread For Birds - Things That Harm Birds

[canonloader]

I have been aware of the problem with plastic fish line, hooks and sinkers discarded by fishermen, and more recently by Red getting caught in a plastic mesh net that had suet in it. I have also been seeing reports of birds frozen to feeders with metal perches. Their feet can freeze instantly to metal pegs or perches that are part of the feeders, in below zero weather. Dying like that is a frightening thing to even think about. The fix for that is shrink tubing or nylon tubing placed over the metal parts to protect the birds feet.

And let's not forget the cold itself. Millions of birds die from unusually heavy snows, arctic fronts plunging further South than normal, or even late snow storms like we had two springs back that killed millions of migrating Ruby Throated Hummingbirds when it caught them coming through the lower Mid-west. The birds need our help in those times with suet, seed, roosting boxes and for the hummers, early Spring and late Fall feeders kept out for them.

And don't forget the bird strikes on buildings and windows and guy wires, which kill billions of migrating birds every year. Billions, with a B. Shame on us for allowing such a thing. Not much we can do on a small scale, but for car/bird strikes, we can be more aware of the road ahead as we drive along, and if you do hit a bird, stop to check it, rather than letting it linger and die a terrible death.

If you know of other dangers and/or have pictures to go with them, feel free to add to the thread. I think this would be a great benefit for all the birds and those who love them.

[doable]

Dad found a saw-whet owl tangled up in surveyors line, it's a thread like line that they use to survey woods lots etc and just leave it behind. We saved the owl but if not found it would have died.

House cats are the biggest bird killers of all, even Audubon states they are one of the main reason for evening grosbeak decline. When young I seen a house cat kill a bird off our cloths line by jumping a good 10 feet. Even my chickens have been killed by free roaming house cats. Watched a cat stalking baby ruffled grouse and believe it kill them all.

Please keep house cats inside,

All the best,

[canonloader]

Yes, house cats are known killers of everything they can catch, not just birds. Recently, there was a PBS Special on them and it was a real eye opener. Wisconsin has finally seen the damage they cause and trapping of feral cats is now legal. I love cats, but they should always be kept inside.

[lilminijpc]

House cats are the biggest bird killers of all...
Please keep house cats inside.

Or make sure you keep the kitties well fed because when they're suffering from food coma they too sleepy to move. :) My parent's pseudo adopted a stray by giving it food/snacks and they have noticed that there's been a decline in dead birds around the yard, which is good news.

[xservo]

A few months ago I came home to find a dead bird that had got its leg caught between the metal "v" on the shepard's hook I use to hold the finch feeders. I can't tell you how upset I was to see this. If I would have been home, I could have saved him as I check the feeders all the time. I have since altered the shepard's hook so this can't happen again. Something to be aware of.

[canonloader]

That does make sense, but I think cats will still kill anything they can, just for fun, even if they aren't hungry.

[RandyMN]

I have a three tier water fountain in which I went to fill one day and noticed something funny sticking out from beneath the top tier.

I opened the hollow part up only to find a soaking wet bird that had been gripping the plastic tube to kee from drowning.

I'm not sure how long it had been inside the hollow fountain, but it sure was happy to get free!

Unfotunately I was gone for a weekend and returned another time only to find one that had drowned in the lowest and deepest tier. Only thing I can figure out was as crowded as the water fountain gets, a young bird must have been knocked into the deeper water.

[RandyMN]

Another danger was a tube feeder I have which has a cage around it to prevent squirrels from eating.

One day last Summer I noticed a bird had been exiting through the bottom cage opening and got stuck where it's feet could not push and it's wings were being held closed by the opening.

I carefully removed and freed the bird, and another very happy bird flew away.

[canonloader]

Wow, it's amazing how many dangerous things there are out there for birds. I think some serious thought needs to go into what companies design to put out in the yard. :(

[lilminijpc]

That does make sense, but I think cats will still kill anything they can, just for fun, even if they aren't hungry.
hm... where are those pesky bate squirrels...? j/k. :)

[gymell]

How about windows? Window strikes kill millions of birds each year. Here's an article (http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyard_birds/top_ten/bill_top_10_strikes.aspx) about what you can do to prevent them.

Also, another danger is poor management of nest boxes. Improperly located, not baffled, encouraging invasive species are all problems. It's better to take nest boxes down if they are not going to be safe for their occupants.

[tomjd]

And some hazards are natural.
Last summer I was walking my dogs early in the morning on a wooded trail. As I walked I heard some buzzing right at my side. My first thought was a rodent but then realized it was about 2 feet off the ground, As it was flapping it's wings, it was moving so fast I could not tell what it was. Until it stopped, and I saw a hummingbird haning upside down staring straight at me, with it's tail feathers all knotted up in a sticker bush.(the type with stickers the size of grapes?) Anyway, I didn't want to hurt the little guy (plus I don't know if they ever use there needle like beaks in defense) so I went to break the branch it was stuck on about a foot back from him. When I snapped the branch, it jerked a little and he popped free and fell to the ground. He stayed there about 3 seconds and took off. Felt pretty cool to save a humming birds life.....even if it wasn't a very smart one:confused:
Later I kind of wish I had taken my camera with me, but probably wouldn't have felt right taking it's picutre when it was stuck like that.

[FlyingPhotog]

The rings and handles on plastic six/eight pack carriers.
These can kill all kinds of animals, not just birds.

Be sure you cut them all !!

[canonloader]

Awhile back, I saw two pictures of Kinglets caught in those cockleburr things. Once the get stuck, it's like flypaper and every time they move, they get stuck worse. They can be saved if you find them caught and they are still alive, but you have to cut the head and give the bird water before doing anything else. Then you need to cut each spine with a small pair of scissors, even if you have to take the burr home with you to do it. This would be a terrible way to die.

[tomjd]

That was my intention. I was going to break the branch, take it to my garage, put some gloves and and start snipping to get it free, but fortunatly, it got loose when the branch broke. Could not have been there long...lucky a racoon or cat didn't see it first.

[sam walker]

I shoot waterbirds frequently from a fishing pier. I was distracted several years back A ringbilled gull would rise a few feet above the railing and crash back down. I finally noticed the near invisible fishing line connected to his beak. Luckily I
had a pair pair of gloves and pliers in the car. Just reeled him in calmed him on the pier. I held him by the neck and cut the hook with the pliers. Of course he flew off without looking back. Every year I scout my piers for cast off lines with bait minnows still attached. I trash them in the all to available cans after removing the bait in case one bird goes can diving. We need more effort by lazy sportsmen that we share these spots with.
Sam

[canonloader]

Yes, there needs to be an effort to educate people who should already know that tangles of fishing line and lose hooks just can't be good for the environment.

[jmchooper]

I am a wildlife biologist that has worked a lot with neotropical migrant songbirds here in Tennessee. While going to college, my professors preached daily on how the only good outside cat is a dead cat (they meant house cats). I was shown research where house cats were killing several birds every day whether they ate them or not. If you can not resist letting your house cat outside, at least put two small bells on it's collar so that it's hunting ability is reduced. House cats are every bit as good a hunters at their wild counterparts.
I don't have anything against house cats, just leave them in the house.

[canonloader]

Well, My live trap was delivered yesterday (http://www.livetrap.com/cgi/search.cgi?user_id=id&database=dbase1.exm&template=products.shtml&2_option=1&2=Standard+Traps). I ordered the one sized for house cats. I live just past the edge of town and there are at least 4 cats that try and hunt in my yard for birds. I have used a pellet gun on them, which works for a week or so, but they always seem to come back. Yesterday, after my trap arrived, I called our County Humane society and told the lady I had gotten a live trap for wild cats, and right away, she cut me off, all enthusiastic and started telling me how to use it, what time of day and everything. I was a bit surprised. So after this, I said, so what should I do when I get one? She said, well of course, call us right away, between 7am and 7pm and we will send someone right out to collect it.

Wow, I knew we passed a bill to allow trapping of feral cats, but I had no idea they were this serious about it. The woman was positively gushing. She did say they try and find it a home, but it's not always possible with feral cats, and if not, they euthanize them. Which is alright by me, I just can't do it myself. I eat steak too, but can't kill the cow. ;)

[puadxe]

One of my teachers (ornithology) said his buddy took a pretty ugly/violent approach to getting rid of the cats he would trap in his yard. He would put them in a bag, start his car, and then put the bag over the opening of his tailpipe until the cat died from the fumes. : (
I AM IN NO WAY ENDORSING THIS, IT'S AWFUL, it's just a story that has stuck with me.

The bell idea sounds like a much better alternative.

[gymell]

Another thing that's harmful to birds. I learned this from the Raptor Center and it sounds like a relatively recent thing. A lot of schools have soccer fields, and the netting that is left up on the goals will trap owls that hunt around the fields at night. The owls will struggle to escape and either die trying, or injure themselves to the extent that they can't be saved. Encourage your local schools to take down the netting at night so this doesn't happen!

[canonloader]

He would put them in a bag, start his car, and then put the bag over the opening of his tailpipe until the cat died from the fumes.
This is one of the way suggested to kill trapped House Sparrows. Another way was to put a trash bag around the whole trap and shoot one seconds worth of starting fluid into the bag. They go to sleep then die of the fumes.

As far as cats go. I set the trap and already have a customer in it. He is out on the porch awaiting pickup by the humane society. Too bad it's wild, cause it's a nice looking Russian Blue. :)

[puadxe]

What if you catch a neighbor's cat? How are you sure that it is indeed "wild"?

[canonloader]

As harsh as it sounds, house cats are the same killers their feral cousins are and he either has a collar on or he takes his chances at the humane society with the rest of them.

This is not 1955 anymore and you just can't allow your dogs or cats to run wild. They all do too much damage and it's well known, and, it's against the law. We either support all laws, or none of them. I have owned cats and dogs in the past, but not in years. My cats were all "house" cats and my dogs were on chains in the yard or in the house.

To be honest, I know all 5 of the cats I am trying to trap and they are all wild cats that live behind us on an old abandoned farm. They have caught and killed a couple of my Cardinals and at least one Blue Jay. That's all they get, now it's war. If I find a cat with a collar on, I will see if there is a tag, if not, it goes to the humane society. In this day and age of throw away pets, people have no hesitation about dropping off their pets miles from their own house to let others deal with the problem. This is how I deal with it. It's not like I enjoy it.

[snowyowl13]

I shoot waterbirds frequently from a fishing pier. I was distracted several years back A ringbilled gull would rise a few feet above the railing and crash back down. I finally noticed the near invisible fishing line connected to his beak. Luckily I
had a pair pair of gloves and pliers in the car. Just reeled him in calmed him on the pier. I held him by the neck and cut the hook with the pliers. Of course he flew off without looking back. Every year I scout my piers for cast off lines with bait minnows still attached. I trash them in the all to available cans after removing the bait in case one bird goes can diving. We need more effort by lazy sportsmen that we share these spots with.
Sam
The really sad part is that some people deliberately try to hook gulls. Apparently some people find it funny to see the gull fly in circles, unable to escape the hook and line.

[canonloader]

That is dusgusting, but I have heard of it too. I think if I ever saw it though, I would probably be sued and someone would go to a hospital.

An update to the first cat I trapped yesterday. They came right out, early, like 7:30am on a Sunday, took the trap and all to the humane society so the cat could come out on his own free will, no further stress on it. Then I went to pick up the trap later. Whatever happens to it, it at least has a warm place and dependable food now, and it is a nice looking cat that will probably be adopted. My main concern though, is still the safety of my birds. They come first. I don't entice them to my yard to be eaten by wild cats. :)

[DaveMcBride]

One of my biggest gripes, and something I actively fight against, is rodenticides and back breaker type rat traps left in the open. Many raptors have been caught in rat traps because careless people left them in the open instead of in a tunnel. Any creature that sees the food, even hedgehogs, will be badly hurt or killed. A Red Kite died last year from injuries to its leg from a rat trap. Then there is the problem of poisons where irresponsible people do not check regularly for dead rats and burn or bury them. They are left outside for owls, buzzards, kites, even pet dogs or cats become victims by eating them. If you do have to use poisons or traps, think about who else may visit the trap and always remove poisoned rats before they get eaten by non target species. I always use live traps and take the rats to some place away from civilisation.

[DaveMcBride]

One of the other biggest danger to birds are these retarded kids with airguns. I saw a video on Youtube of someone killing an American Robin and then do some graphic close ups of the blood coming from it's head. He was loving it, a real sadist. He said it lived for two hours after being shot. I don't even think he knew what type of bird it was...just something to kill. If anyone sees a kid firing at a protected bird, do me a favour and wrap the gun around their neck :evil:

[canonloader]

Unfortunately, it's not just kids.

[BradM]

I am a wildlife biologist that has worked a lot with neotropical migrant songbirds here in Tennessee. While going to college, my professors preached daily on how the only good outside cat is a dead cat (they meant house cats). I was shown research where house cats were killing several birds every day whether they ate them or not. If you can not resist letting your house cat outside, at least put two small bells on it's collar so that it's hunting ability is reduced. House cats are every bit as good a hunters at their wild counterparts.
I don't have anything against house cats, just leave them in the house.


Bells don't work, BBC did a show on domestic and feral house cats and the number of animals they killed on a daily basis. It was quite large as has been mentioned. But it also looked at belling a cat and the effectiveness, which was nill. No reduction in the number of kills.

A cat hunts by stealth, a stealthy approach doesn't ring a bell regardless of the number. Also a bell is not a warning to a wild bird, try it sometime whether in a blind or just sitting in the yard and ring a bell softly or vigorously only the most shy might fly others just ignore it as another atypical "human noise" like radios or cars.

On trapping pets, one must be cognizant of local laws. In Washington State it is illegal to trap any animal without a specific trapping license. No animal whether it is a raccoon living under your home, a mole in the yard or a feral cat. Live traps or not any trapping is illegal by the voters choice, has created a number of issues not the least is regular folks being prosecuted.

Also be cautious about self euthanizing any stray animals, again local laws come into play but in Washington it is considered a felony charge of cruelty to animals. In many jurisdictions it is not illegal to allow a cat roam freely where a dog would be. It is not appropriate or ethical to allow cats to do so but it may not be illegal.

In the past I arrested a person for doing this to a cat, this retiree was tired of neighborhood cats defecating and hunting his yard. He was convicted with a 18 month sentence (suspended) but a $5,000 fine and then liable to civil suits from neighbors. To be honest I was happy about the arrest and sentencing. His actions were not appropriate nor reasonable.

I have had cat problems myself, along with teenagers that like to hide near my shop out of view of the neighborhood and smoke their dope. A solution to both was sprinklers that are motion detecting.

There are two points in my yard where a cat may ambush birds, under the fountain and behind a tree next to the fence line. I screened both, at the fountain a screen runs paralell to the main bowl out to prevent a cat from reaching up to the fountain and the tree has screen to prevent hiding behind it.

Then a motion detecting sprinkler covers the most of all of the other areas with a high pressure pulse that runs for about 2 minutes cycling back and forth. A cat, raccoon or other small animal easily sets this off.

I set another up on the gable of my shop for the teenagers, they moved along after a couple of attempts of disabling it, but the pictures captured by the motion detecting camera stopped that after the parents and police got copies.

Bottomline there is less than lethal, legal and ethical manners to approach the problems of domestic or feral pets hunting wildlife in ones yard.

[canonloader]

Trapping cats here is legal. Any kind of trapping. The law was passed by a referendum vote just last year. Apparenty, people here know the damage cats do, and it passed with a huge margin. I love house cats, had them most of my life. But I can't remember any place I ever lived that specifically stated it was legal to let them roam free. Sure, lot's of people do it, but that does not make it legal. Here at least, no pet is allowed to roam free and those owners are the ones need arresting. A few of those showing up at the bench and people would start keeping their killing machines in at night. ;)

[BradM]

Trapping cats here is legal. Any kind of trapping. The law was passed by a referendum vote just last year. Apparenty, people here know the damage cats do, and it passed with a huge margin. I love house cats, had them most of my life. But I can't remember any place I ever lived that specifically stated it was legal to let them roam free. Sure, lot's of people do it, but that does not make it legal. Here at least, no pet is allowed to roam free and those owners are the ones need arresting. A few of those showing up at the bench and people would start keeping their killing machines in at night. ;)

Mitch, I was just making a point for others to look at local laws instead of assuming because someone else is trapping that it must be legal for them to do it as well.

As to whether if it is legal for a cat to roam it is usually a case of legality by exception. What is not mentioned by an ordinance is allowed. Laws are written, at least in the US, as prohibitions and not as allowances.

As an example many jurisdictions require a dog license and have legislated leash laws or other restrictions on a dogs movement but cats or other house pets are not mentioned and without a specific ordinance or language covering these pets it is not illegal to allow them to roam free.

Owners that allow their pets to roam free are doing a number of disservices to their communities and I am not advocating or defending their behavior just stating that if an individual tries to control the issue without the legal system behind them they are opening themselves up to possible serious repurcussions.

[canonloader]

I was just stating what's legal here in Wisconsin. I thought it was an excellent touch to have a referendum vote for trapping cats. It's long overdue in all states IMO. :)

As to how they word it here, I have not read the laws as it normally does not concern me that much, but I have noticed signs at parks and even the Ordinance signs you see, and they have worded it very cleverly here, "All Pets must be on leash." If it ever came to it here, I don't think you could argue that a house cat is not a pet. ;)

But, as I said, I did call the Humane Society before putting out my trap, and they were openly enthusiastic that I was doing it. Even bubbling over on the phone, telling me when and how to bait and set it. As it turns out, Animal Control, which is not the same as the Humane Society, has loaner live traps citizens can check out and set on their property. I didn't ask but assume, no license needed. You might check in your area if your bothered by cats, instead of buying one.

[dale65bama]

I have a nice Hav-a-hart trap for the local cats. Of course I also get an occasional possum. In Pinellas Co., FL, the county ordinance is directed at controlling "at large animals". This is often referred to as "leash law", but it allows pets to be off-leash if they are under voice command. Our animal control department collects the animals from traps. At least one of the cats I had was returned to its owner because it had an imbedded microchip identifier. Another owner put up signs in the neighborhood warning of the trap at my house and to go there if their pet was missing. I will be more than happy to speak with them. None of the cats I have caught had a collar (and consequently, no rabies tag). After they are in the trap, do not try to pet them. You could get a serious injury. I explain to the owners that there are many things out there more dangerous to their pets than my trap - cars, poisonous snakes, raccoons (principal carrier of rabies), and more recently coyotes. Cats are high on the list of a coyote's high-protein snack!

If people truly love their pets, they will keep them at home and under control.

Thanks for the opportunity to rant!

Dale

[canonloader]

Just an update. I have a cat in my trap right now, sitting out there waiting to be picked up. This would be #4 in as many nights of setting the trap. If you have a cat problem, then contact your local Animal Control Office. They are not the same as the Humane Society. animal Control is run by the County and is normally called the "Dog Catcher". Contact them before buying your own live trap. The generally have "loaners" that you can go pick up and use to trap cats.

Here's how it works, but check with your dog catcher, cause it may be different where you live. I set my trap after dark, before I go to sleep. Since there is snow, the cats have made their own trail around my porch, through the bushes and along the house, right to my bird feeding area. I set the trap with the open end facing the direction they enter my yard from. I use old cheese, meat that is ready to throw out, and last night, some Moose meat that has been in the freezer for 3 years and should have been tossed. Doesn't matter what it is though, they will eat it. Once you have the cat in the trap, call animal control and they will come and pick up the trap, cat and all, and they usually show up here within 30-45 minutes. They only come from 7am to 7pm 7 days a week.

Because I own the trap, I have to go pick it up later in the day. Yesterday, I talked to the guy how came for my cat and he told me they have picked up over 100 cats from our trailer park alone in the last couple years. Because of the creek behind the park and the abandoned farm beyond, they have found a great place to breed like Sparrows. Needless to say, I was stunned. And I wondered why I never saw any birds around here before I started feeding.

I am still a cat lover, but now I am on a mission. I am going to trap cats until there are no more around here. I just found several cardinal feathers under my feeding table the other day, and it makes me quite determined to catch all the wild cats I can. The animal control people are all, so far, ecstatic that I am doing this. They offer tips and are willing to come out once a day if that's what it takes, cause they have seen the problem and recognize it as a threat. :)

[Larry Weinman]

The plastic that holds six packs together is lethal. We pulled one off a swan that had his beak tangled up in one. He was near death from not being able to eat but he is doing well in a rehab center and will be released soon.Cut those plastic things into little pieces before discarding

[jnbradley]

From the list of natural things that can harm birds: Was trolling for trout in a lake once and saw this coot kind of strangely swimming in circles with it's beak down in the water most of the time. We kept watching it and decided it definitely wasn't normal as he was also not paying much attention to us. We turned around and went back near him with my buddy ready with the fish net. We figured he must be tangled in something. As we approached and made a scoop at him, he did a good job of almost swimming frantically away, but we got part of him in the net- neck/ head and as he flopped out over the edge of the net, a freshwater clam became dislodged from his beak! It had clamped on his mouth and wouldn't let go- it was near 4 inches across- too heavy to allow the bird to lift his head up out of the water for long. That's a strange fishing story.

[canonloader]

Good for you going back to help. We'll have to add freshwater clams to the list. :)

[DaveMcBride]

Wow, that's one to watch out for. I wonder how many birds have been killed by clams?

[BradM]

A significant threat to birds which hasn't been mentioned is the cleanliness of the feeders, baths and fountains we have in our yards.

Virulent and deadly dieases like salmonellis are often spread by the feces of infected birds and many birds that normally would not be exposed to this infection because of differing habits between species are brought together at the feeders or water sources where they are infected.

An infection of salmonellis or another can run rampant through a flocking species like Goldfinch or Siskins or even ground feeders like Quail or Doves if the waste and dropped seeds from the feeders are exposed to the droppings.

Clean your feeders often, use a 1:10 ratio of bleach to water, clean up the waste material under the feeders (makes an excellent compost additive), drain and wash the fountains and baths regularly again using the bleach/water mix. If a fountain allow the mixture to run through the fountains plumbing for a couple minutes to disinfect it as well. Wash down the foliage below perching areas where feces may drop.

If you find a lethargic bird that will allow a very close approach, or if it flies but only a short distance, perched or sitting in an odd area usually with feathers puffed it is almost certainly infected. It cannot be saved.

Don't touch this bird without gloves or other barriers this salmonella poisoning can be passed to humans. Children are at a great risk because one can often pick these birds up easily.

If you find an infected bird in or around remove your feeders and clean them throughly, stop feeding for several weeks to allow the birds to disperse and the lessen the impact of infection through the differing species. Clean the fountain/bath extremely well and exchange the water on a daily basis if you want to keep the water available to the birds.

And it is common sense but wash up very well anytime you refill, clean or otherwise work with the feeders or water sources, it is quite easy to bring this salmonella infection into your own home, which for most might be a slight case of the "flu" but for the elderly or very young it can be deadly.

[canonloader]

Good advice Brad. Dave, clams might not be a big problem, but I see a lot of egrets and herons with missing toes, even legs, and I know that ducklings get snatched by turtles.

[DaveMcBride]

Sounds like a lot of dangers in the water too.
Brad, I am glad you posted that as I was very ill a few weeks ago, and after looking up the symptoms of salmonella poisoning I think that is what I had. It could have come from the feeders when I clean them, must be more careful in future.