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From: sid@jato.jpl.nasa.gov (Sid Johnson WB6VWH)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Bird feeding Station
Message-ID: <1991Apr18.005951.4489@jato.jpl.nasa.gov>
Date: 18 Apr 91 00:59:51 GMT
References: <1991Apr15.225115.3695@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov> <1991Apr16.191709.29728@NPIRS.Purdue.EDU> <1991Apr17.072124.3028@nmt.edu> <1991Apr17.163718.27746@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov>
Reply-To: sid@jato.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Sid Johnson WB6VWH)
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Lines: 37

In article <1991Apr17.163718.27746@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov> hastings@jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV (Sheri Hastings) writes:
>In article <1991Apr17.072124.3028@nmt.edu> john@nmt.edu (John Shipman) writes:
>
>>I've heard that Great Horned Owls regularly catch well-fed suburban
>>cats in the wealthy Bay Area suburb of Los Altos Hills.
>>
>seen them carrying mice, snakes, and lizards. Do they bother any other birds?

Not that I know of, being nocturnal it's usually little four legged critters
that they are after.

>I like to walk at sunset and that is when I usually see these guys (gals? 
>how do you tell them apart?) with their prey.
>
The only way I know of is by voice.  Female supposedly higher pitched.

>these owls hang out.) I think I'll bring the cats in at night. 
>

Wise. If owls don't get them Coyotes might.  We have lost cats to both.

	>Several people have suggested that I put bells on the cats if I am
>going to attract birds to the yard.  That seems like a pretty good
>idea to me. 
> 

Especially at this time of year, even if you don't have feeders out right
now.  It is nesting season as well as lots of migratory birds passing
throught the area right now.  Our youngest cat got an Orange-crowned
Warbler today, even though belled.  Karen was furious and I'm afraid the
kitty will be confined to the hous for a week or so as punishment for 
such a deed.  She managed to get it away before the cat did much
damage but Sam Conroy's messages from a year or so ago tell me that
the bird will die anyway.  One of her cage birds died today also, so 
she is not fit to even call on the phone.

-Sid