If you're a coffee lover, consider buying shade-grown coffee. Coffee grown on clearcut plantations not only destroys rainforest, but also critical winter habitat for migratory birds. Cats that are allowed to roam free can also be a problem. Studies have shown that 20 percent to 30 percent of cats' prey is birds. There are at least 68 million pet cats in United States, not including millions of stray and feral cats.
Owners can reduce the number of birds maimed and killed by keeping their cats indoors.
This is also beneficial to cats. Indoor cats are generally healthier and live longer and require fewer vet visits than those who roam outdoors. Even with the ban on toxic pesticides like DDT, birds are still being exposed to harmful pesticides. Although most pesticides are intended to control specific pests, some harm or kill nontarget species. Forty active ingredients in pesticides, the majority of which target insects, have been linked to bird die-offs.