Domestic cats are a major threat to birds, particularly songbirds, in all human-inhabited areas. Domestic cats are estimated to kill 2.4 billion birds per year in the United States alone. Many cat owners also consider themselves birdwatchers and set out feeders to attract birds to their yards, making predation by cats easier. A collar with a bell has been found to reduce the number of birds killed by about 50%. A collar with a colorful tube of fabric, however, like the Birdsbesafe® collar, provides a visual cue to warn birds and reduces bird predation by 60 to 95%.
Author: Dr. Susan Willson
Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Biology, St. Lawrence University