Activity 8 Keep Your Cat Indoors Contest

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1 Activity 8 Keep Your at Indoors ontest reated By Point Reyes Bird Observatory Education Program

2 Teacher Resource Packets Activity #8 lassroom Activities ats Indoors Poster ontest Activity 8 Objective: To introduce students to the threats cats pose to bird populations. Materials: Poster board Paint, olored Pens, olored Pencils ats Indoors poster contest rules, guidelines Duration: Depends on level of participation teachers discretion Background Each year domestic cats kill an estimated 4.4 million songbirds! The following is a list of facts about cats: Well-fed domestic cats are not less prone to hunting than cats who depend on hunting for food. In fact, many well-fed cats are avid hunters who can afford to patiently hunt more difficult prey, like birds. ats live a safer, longer life as indoor pets. Populations of stray or "feral" cats can grow larger then populations of native predators because cat densities are not limited by territoriality as are native predators such as bobcats, foxes, or coyotes. ats transmit disease to wildlife, such as feline lukemia, feline distemper, feline immunodeficiency virus, and rabies. ats are not a natural part of our ecosystems. ats were domesticated in Egypt approximately 4,000 years ago and brought to Europe 2,000 years ago. ats were brought in large numbers to North America in the late 19th century in an attempt to control rodent populations resulting from the spread of agriculture. ats with bells on their collars do kill birds. Procedure 1. Visit the American Bird onservancy s website and view the poster contest rules and regulations. ( 2. Introduce students to the issue of cats and bird populations by discussing the issue as a group. 3. Have the students create posters for submission to the contest. reated by Point Reyes Bird Observatory Education Program

3 Teacher Resource Packets Activity #8 lassroom Activities Activity 8 (cont.) Extension Ideas: Make this project a public awareness campaign for your school or community. The following is a list of possibilities: Place copies of posters around your school to inform other students of this issue Have students research the issue further and write an informative brochure or flyer to distribute to community members. Have students write articles for the school newspaper, local newspapers, etc. Other? Be reative! More information on the subject of cats and birds can be found at the following locations: Point Reyes Bird Observatory: American Bird onservancy: International Migratory Bird Day: National Audubon Society: ornell Lab of Ornithology: The Humane Society: American Humane Association: reated by Point Reyes Bird Observatory Education Program

4 ATS INDOORS! THE AMPAIGN FOR SAFER BIRDS AND ATS Scientists estimate that free-roaming domestic cats kill hundreds of millions of birds, and three times as many other small wildlife each year in the U.S. ats have a high reproduction rate and are efficient, non-native predators. Ground nesting and feeding birds, as well as nestlings and fledgling birds of many species, are particularly at risk. In the U.S., cats kill endangered species such as the Piping Plover, alifornia Least Tern, and San lemente Loggerhead Shrike. ats also kill native small mammals key to maintaining ecosystems and a vital food source for raptors such as Great Horned Owls, Red-Tailed Hawks, and American Kestrels. Free-roaming cats often experience short lives filled with pain, suffering, and deprivation. Outdoor cats on average live three to five years. Indoor cats commonly live 17 years. Free-roaming cats can also spread disease to humans and other animals. American Bird onservancy (AB) launched ats Indoors! The ampaign for Safer Birds and ats to change human attitudes and behavior regarding freeroaming cats in order to protect birds and other wildlife. In addition, AB s campaign will reduce the pain and suffering of cats and decrease the spread of diseases. Despite diligent efforts by animal welfare groups to foster responsible pet ownership, millions still permit their cats to roam, and stray and feral cat overpopulation is a growing problem. ats Indoors! involves constituency building, education, and action. Building diverse partnerships, securing support in the public and private sectors, sparking local grassroots campaigns, and engaging the opposition in finding solutions is a complex effort. The goal and message of the ampaign are simple: End predation of birds and other wildlife by cats. ats, whether owned, stray, or feral, should not roam free! In partnership with others, AB will: Educate cat owners, decision makers, and the general public that cats should be kept indoors because they are a significant threat to birds and other wildlife, pose a health threat to humans, and suffer themselves. Advocate laws, regulations, and policies to protect cats and birds, including the humane removal of free-roaming cats from areas important to wildlife. Promote grassroots efforts to address the issue at the state and local levels. Reduce polarity and engage all sides on what is an emotional issue in the search for solutions. Some change will happen one cat and one cat owner at a time. By raising the scale and visibility of the debate, however, AB will create a sense of urgency and begin an irreversible change in human attitudes and behaviors about free-roaming cats. hanging human attitudes and behavior -- and not blaming cats -- is central to an effective campaign. For more information, contact: AMERIAN BIRD ONSERVANY ATS INDOORS! THE AMPAIGN FOR SAFER BIRDS AND ATS th Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D Phone: 202/ ; Fax: ; abc@abcbirds.org; Web site:

5 American Bird onservancy (AB) is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the protection of wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. Formed in 1994 in response to the need for one group to coordinate collaborative approaches, AB serves as a conduit for communication between groups, and provides a clear and impartial picture about avian conservation to the public. AB Initiates and oordinates Partnerships to onserve Birds Policy ouncil With members ranging from broad, national conservation groups to smaller bird-specific ones, AB's Policy ouncil is the hub for bird conservation in the U.S. The ouncil serves as a forum for exchanging and discussing emerging issues, and as a network for conservation action. The Policy ouncil played a leading role on stopping the pesticide poisoning of Swainson's Hawks in Argentina, convincing the Navy to protect the San lemente Loggerhead Shrike on its land, and fighting for horseshoe crab harvest restrictions to protect Delaware Bay shorebirds. Partners in Flight AB has joined the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as a leader in Partners in Flight (PIF). PIF brings together conservation groups, government agencies, the scientific community, and private industry -- to develop sound management plans for the habitats of all high priority birds of North America. International onservation AB aids partner organizations in Latin America and the aribbean. AB, through the Policy ouncil, is also working with international and national partners to end the killing of tens of thousands of seabirds annually from longline fishing. AB also makes small grants to field scientists in Latin America. ats Indoors! The ampaign for Safer Birds and ats In partnership with conservation and animal welfare groups, AB is conducting a campaign to address the loss of hundreds of millions of birds and other small animals each year in the U.S. to cat predation. AB Improves ommunications Within the onservation ommunity and to the General Public. AB publishes Bird onservation, a quarterly magazine featuring updates on activities of groups and agencies involved in bird conservation. Approximately 50 organizations are recognized in each issue. Bird onservation also offers ways for the public to become more involved. AB's Policy ouncil publishes Bird alls to disseminate information and promote dialogue on current and emerging issues to Policy ouncil members on a timely basis. Important Bird Areas Program In coordination with PIF, professionals and amateurs are working to identify and conserve priority bird sites throughout the U. S. Hundreds of people are now involved in the identification of Important Bird Areas (IBAs).

6 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ONTATS: Linda Winter, AB Mike Parr, AB Kari Hurlbut, WBA TEN YEAR OLD WINS POSTER OMPETITION FOR NATIONAL KEEP YOUR AT INDOORS DAY WASHINGTON, D: American Bird onservancy (AB) and Wild Bird enters of America (WBA) announce the winners of the children s poster competition for the second annual National Keep Your at Indoors Day on May 13, The posters will be used to publicize the event which aims to educate cat owners that cats, birds and other wildlife all benefit when cats are kept indoors. The event coincides with International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) which involves thousands of people in birdwatching and education activities across the country during the spring bird migration. Linda Winter, Director of ats Indoors! ampaign for AB stated, We were just overwhelmed with the response from children all across the country who sent us artwork showing happy indoor cats. From over 300 entries, the overall winner and winner in the age category is Holly Popp from Salem, OH. Holly is 10 years old, she is home schooled and belongs to the Salem Bird Study lub. Holly told me she just loves birds and cats. Holly and her bird club each won a $250 gift certificate from WBA. The winner of the 8-9 age category is Brendan Armstrong from hico, A, and the winner in the 6-7 age category is Ashleigh Gibbs from Spring, TX. They each receive an R.T. hickadee bird feeder and nest box kit, a bird guide, and an R.T. hickadee plush toy. The winning posters can be viewed and downloaded from AB s Web site at: and on WBA s Web site at: --More--

7 Page 2 George Petrides, president of Wild Bird enters of America, said, ongratulations and thanks to all the children who sent artwork for this contest. It is encouraging that so many young people are interested in the future of our bird populations and maintaining the health and safety of our domestic pets. Each year, free-roaming domestic cats kill hundreds of millions of birds and small mammals, some of which are rare species in danger of extinction. In addition, millions of outdoor cats are killed or injured by cars or in fights with other cats, dogs, or wild animals. Free-roaming cats can contract debilitating and life-threatening diseases, become lost, stolen, or poisoned. It is clearly in the best interest of both cats and birds to keep cats at home. AB s ats Indoors! ampaign is supported by thousands of individuals and conservation, animal welfare, wildlife rehabilitation, and veterinary organizations throughout the country including The Humane Society of the United States, American Humane Association, National Audubon Society, and the Association of Avian Veterinarians. AB produces campaign education materials which include fact sheets on cat predation on birds and other wildlife, hazards to free-roaming cats, cat ordinances, and how to make an outdoor cat a contented indoor pet. A four-color brochure and poster are available, as well as Public Service Announcements and a teacher s activity guide for grades K - 6 through AB s Web site. Dr. George Fenwick, AB president, said, Our migratory birds have survived habitat loss on their wintering grounds, natural disasters, and a long flight--sometimes across open water. To be killed by a well-fed cat on their return to the U.S. is an unspeakable, but preventable, tragedy. Web sites of interest: American Bird onservancy: Wild Bird enters of America: International Migratory Bird Day: National Audubon Society: ornell Lab of Ornithology: The Humane Society of the United States: American Humane Association: