LETTER: Data blaming cats for bird deaths seems exaggerated

SooToday received the following letter from Selva Rasaiah that was written in response to David Helwig’s story, Corey Gardi launches pro-bird (anti-cat?) initiative.

Dear Councillors Scott and Gardi, 

I would like to comment on your resolution "Nature Canada: Bird Friendly City Certification Program", and the SooToday article discussing it. 

I think it is a good resolution, but requires a bit more research and education for the public. 

I think the data used by Nature Canada is a bit exaggerated and doesn't apply to many municipalities like the Sault. 

An obvious issue is the very large range Nature Canada provides in its estimation of 100-350 million birds killed by cats each year in Canada. 

Reliable data would not use such a large range to present with any level of certainty their claim that 75 per cent of all bird deaths in Canada are caused by cats. 

I am not sure how Nature Canada arrives at its data of 59 per cent deaths from feral cats, since this type of data throughout the entire country would require extensive national research and coordination, which is likely not occurring. 

If you accepted their data, the Sault does not have a large feral cat issue that is impacting our local populations. 

Heavily urbanized cities like Toronto are clearly a significant issue as they present higher probabilities that birds will collide with windows and their urban sprawl has greater impacts on in their natural habitat and foraging activities. 

Loss of habit is likely the biggest issue since food sources become more spare and urban activity disturbs their natural range. 

The Nature Canada link provides no data on the loss of habitat impacting bird deaths in Canada to make a realistic conclusion that 75 per cent of bird deaths in Canada are caused by cats.  

The scare from avian flu which resulted in advisories to remove bird feeders, although positive in many ways, eliminated a food source they depended on in their urban environment. 

Residential gardens and city properties should provide plants that serve as an effective natural food source for birds to manage issues relating to food sources and loss of habitat. 

Since replacing larger windows is not always possible, hanging something in the window is a simple way to help reduce bird collisions with windows.   

A Photoshopped picture and inflated data make a compelling story, but they don't address the real issues creating the problems in most municipalities in Canada. 

Selva Rasaiah