canberrabirds

P. K. does it again

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Subject: P. K. does it again
From: Robin Hide <>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:56:08 +1000
Do some cats specialise?
We have had a desexed male Burmese (RSPCA origin) for nearly 12 yrs in the old part (houses built 1927) of Ainslie. Hes been a specialist hunter of exotic rodent pests - rats and mice (Rattus rattus and Mus mus - both infest local roofs, gardens with numbers fluctuating according to conditions) from day 1. Hes still catching rats at age 16yr - 4 rats in last couple of months. To our knowledge - birds dont interest him. Two exceptions: an immature Spotted Dove a few weeks ago (brought in unharmed - cat has soft mouth), and a (non bird but flying creature) microbat several years - also unharmed (I released it safely - though it bit me, necessitating a course of injections against bat lyssavirus). Garden has its fair share of Eastern Spinebills, Silvereyes, Fairy Wrens, Blackbirds, Sparrows,  etc etc. Perhaps an exception...?
Robin Hide
 

On 12/06/2012 8:22 PM, John Layton wrote:

 

 

I wonder if P. K. brings home any native birds?

Peter Ormay

 

Yeah, that’s the $64 000 question I put P. K.’s owners and was met with a resounding (overly emphatic?) NO! Hmmm. As they say, go figure.

 

John Layton

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