Description

We live in a high spot in the city, sheltered from the north wind by highrise apartment buildings. There are tall pine trees, as well as deciduous trees in our neighbourhood, which have attracted migrating birds for decades. We have seen more and more different kinds of birds in our backyard than in any bird watching venue, park or sanctuary. We have listed almost 100 different kinds of birds we've sighted here over the years.
But not any more. Since a colony of feral cats have been breeding, and feeding in our neighbourhood there are no more birds. This winter I spotted a small woodpecker, which generally stays high in the trees. But there are no more sparrows, starlings, cardinals, blue jays, or house finches; not to mention rose breasted grosbeaks We've stopped using bird feeders because we fear it puts the birds at risk to the the waiting cats. They also will eat the squirrels, and where we might have looked out and seen a dozen squirrels whizzing about the neighbourhood before, now they are fewer and far between.
With our neighbours, we made one attempt to reduce the predation by trapping kittens and finding them homes, and trapping the mum and having her spayed. But there are too many for us to handle this alone.
Our neighbourhood, and the nearby parks and Belt Line path have been wonderful habitats for many, many birds. I know there are efforts to reduce the deaths of migrating birds by turning out high rise lights at night. I think it is about time we stopped letting people abandon cats they don't want any more and allowing them to devastate the ecology of our city. Cats are very efficient killers and if people are serious about protecting bird life, something has to be done about the feral cats. I understand there are huge numbers in the Maritimes (abandoned by people moving away to jobs in other provinces). I suspect the same thing is happening here.
Between animal control and City Parks Forestry Department, or whatever, there should be some will to find a solution.