A good friend of mine had about 30 in her yard yesterday, busily devouring cut up apples as we had a fair snow storm Friday night-Saturday, and the ground is covered again, hiding those precious worms. Poor Man's Fertilizer, which comes on the freshly ploughed soil and brings with it a load of nitrogen as the flakes pass down through the atmosphere. During migration, birds are particularly vulnerable to predators. They are unfamiliar with their surroundings, and tired and hungry after the long journey. This makes them perfect prey for a cunning cat roaming outdoors.
Cats are dangerous predators for birds at other times of the year, too.
For example, most young birds leave the nest before they can fly well. Whenever you see newly fledged baby birds on the ground or taking short practice flights, remember that they are easy prey for a roaming cat. Keep kitty indoors. Worldwide, cats may have been involved in the extinction of more bird species than any other cause, except habitat destruction. The American Bird Conservancy's first national poster competition was held last year and attracted entries from 28 states.