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Subject:

YB cuckoos... and how to make migration and life safer for our feathered friends

From:

Robert Anderson

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Wed, 16 Jun 2004 15:35:04 -0400

Sad news on the cuckoo front today.

A coworker and I walked out of our building at noon today to find a dead
adult YB cuckoo in front of a window. It was definitely dead but probably
only within the last hour. Another victim of window crashes.

I have not seen many window kills around the building (it is only 5 stories)
but assume that if there are some building staff or scavengers take them
away.

After my recent concerned email about window strikes on MDOsprey, I did some
research and found a Canadian organization that is working to prevent of
bird collisions. FLAP.org has some interesting information on window strikes
and many other things.
http://www.flap.org/new/diurnalfr.htm

One of the most interesting links is to a sight with a product that
restrains bird predation by cats.
Catgoods has a bib for your outdoor cats. It is somewhat strange but from
the massive feedback it looks like a very effective thing (and you can get
one for free.)
http://www.catgoods.com/csprodinfo.html

Other sites of safe migration interest include:
Lights out Chicago Program
http://www.cityofchicago.org/Environment/BirdMigration/sub/lights_out_chicago.html
Birdlife International
http://www.birdlife.org
American Bird Conservancy (has some programs)
abcbirds.org
and
Partners In Flight
www.partnersinflight.org/

My interest in this has grown so much that I have recently obtained a few
urls and begun putting together a "Safe Migration" website (and eventually
an organization).

The goal is to launch practical efforts to reduce building strikes, tower
and wind turbine kills, and cat predations (both feral and pet). Some
experts estimate that close to a billion birds die each year from these
collisions.

NOTE:  If anyone has ideas on what would work for this cause, please reply
to me off line unless you think it is something all of us could benefit
from. I will compile a list and eventually have it on the site.

Thanks for your help.

Rob from DC