It is time that people in Bend wake up. I live by the Old Mill District and I have had almost no songbirds around this year.
I live by the canal, yet I have not seen any gold finch. My chickadees that nested last year did not come back to the birdhouse when they should have. Also, the couple of the robins I had around are gone. We are losing our songbirds to cats and windows in this town.
A few days ago, I got up at 5:30 a.m. to put my dogs out. There was no sound; it was complete silence. This is not normal. Songbirds should have been very actively singing by this time. This should raise the alarm.
It is time that a leash law and heavy fines be given to irresponsible cat owners who leave their cats out. Cats belong indoors!! This town is also invaded by feral cats who come out at night. Cats are destroying our native wildlife. They kill hundreds of millions of songbirds every year, some ornithologists even say that cats kill 2 billion songbirds every year. When the parent birds are killed during nesting season, the young will die of starvation. Songbirds are on the decline in all states, big time. Something needs to be done!! Cats are an introduced species and just like any exotic species, they do not belong outside. I am outraged by the "laissez faire" attitude of our local politicians and the little respect some human beings have for our songbird populations! Please, Google "wildlife and cats."
Elisabeth Schneider, Bend
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