With this terrible drought, animals are having a harder time finding water
for drinking and bathing. Bird baths are one of the most important things you can do for
your birds. If you have a conventional birdbath, where you place it is critical. Under a
tree (for protection from overhead predators) is best.
About 4-6' from a bush is also good - this gives
the bird a safe place to dash to should a predator try to strike but keeps the bath far
enough from cover needed by cats to pounce.
I have also found that any large relatively flat
item (trash can lid, low kitty litter box, large pot lid) placed on the ground under very
low, very dense cover is very frequently used by my birds. If the cover is low enough and
dense enough, the birds are well hidden from predator's eyes and cats are unable to stalk
and pounce through such dense cover.
Most birds are extremely preoccupied at this time
with courting and territory protection and can easily fall prey to cats. The safest thing
for wildlife and cats both is to keep all cats inside. An inside cat is unable to kill
wildlife and is protected from all the dangers that come with life outside (fatal
diseases, poisoning, being hit by cars or shot by people are some of the many things that
befall a cat that's allowed to roam). If you love your cat, protect him by keeping him
safe at home with you!
Its also the time of year when I get dozens of
calls about some crazy bird who just won't stop attacking a window or car mirror. The main
culprit seems to be cardinals. For all their beauty, cardinals are extremely aggressive
towards one another and at this time of year its all about territory! The bird you see
throwing itself against your window for hours on end is simply trying to drive off that
other, equally aggressive bird it sees in the window. And unfortunately he won't stop till
that other bird goes away or he can't get to the window or mirror.
Since boarding up your windows for the next month
is obviously not an option, the solution is simple and quite fun. Take some regular
balloons, blow them up, paint 2 eyes on them (no eyebrows or nose or mouth, just eyes) and
hang them from the window where the offending bird is trying to beat itself to death. The
eyes on the balloon will frightening the bird and the breeze created by the bird's wings
as he flies near the window will move the balloons and keep the bird away. Besides, your
neighbors will think you're real party animals!!
For protecting the car mirrors, place a large sock
over the mirror (be sure to remove the sock when you drive!). The bird will not attack
what it can't see. You might also try moving the bird feeder temporarily further from the
house. Your bird's territory will include this important food source and he will be trying
to protect it from the "intruder". Moving the feeder will help shift the center
of your bird's territory away from the windows and that "other" pesky
interloper.
And always remember, when you find any injured or
orphaned animal, bird or mammal, WARM, dark and quiet is MOST important. Never try to feed
a cold baby. Call a rehabber right away!
