Cats are pretty silent and are stealth hunters. Still the presence of
a neighbour's cat in our courtyard provokes furious alarm calls from
nesting Blackbirds and from Red Wattlebirds with dependent young. So a
cat when seen really does worry birds. And wild ferqal cats are very
efficient predators.
Many years ago I recall someone writing in 'The Bird Observer' how
they had observed a small dam in dry woodland in northern Victoria over
some days. All sorts of wildlife came to drink and bathe, from tiny
birds up to large kangaroos. Someone else came and parked a caravan
next to the dam and tethered a very small dog, Australian terrier type
outside it. It didn't bark much, but all the time it was there, on a
very hot day, no birds or animals came to the dam.
Obviously, this could affect survival of many species.
Anthea Fleming
On 9/12/2011 12:50 PM, Peter Shute wrote:
"She and her colleagues hung speakers near song-sparrow nests and began
broadcasting the sound of hawks, raccoons and other predators.
"The sparrows were so scared they experienced something akin to post-traumatic
stress. They laid fewer eggs and were so flustered many of their chicks starved to
death.
"By the end of the four-month experiment the sparrows had produced 40 per cent fewer
young than normal, demonstrating what scientists say is the very real impact of
fear."
Given how unsuccessful this kind of thing is at keeping birds away from crops,
I wonder if the effect would eventually wear off if they continued the
experiment.
"Clinchy says cats should not be allowed in wildlife areas as previous studies have
shown that feral and domestic cats directly kill 22 per cent of birds in Victoria parks.
He says the fear effect is likely reducing the number by another 20 per cent."
Does this mean that even if it turns out to be true that someone's moggy
doesn't actually kill anything, they're still have a big impact on local
wildlife?
Peter Shute
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of
Ian& Carla Jackett
Sent: Friday, 9 December 2011 10:53 AM
To:
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Sound of predators can be just as
deadly as their claws and fangs
An interesting article on a recent study near Victoria B.C.
Carla Jackett
Bellawongarah
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Sound+predators+just+deadly
+their+claws+f
angs/5831165/story.html
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