One of my Catbird friends asked for help!

[happybird]

There is a pair who have made a nest in the shrub next to my lower deck. They are my buddies and will let me talk to them as they perch on the railings of the upper deck/porch.

I was sitting on the couch on the upper deck in a Zoom meeting and one kept loudly calling while the other was zooming around from tree to tree in the yard. The calls sounded different from their familiar vocalizations: very insistent and a different pitch. I took a quick photo of the one yelling in my direction and came down to the lower deck. A big fat grey and white cat was on the railing, inside their bush! It jumped down and ran away when I came down the steps.





This is their shrub, and the cat was lurking on the railing by the grill, inside the shrub. Didn't even see it till it jumped down.

Normally I am happy for cats to be in my yard, but I've never had bird friends before, so this year is different! Is there anything I can do to discourage this cat away from the shrub, something that won't scare the birds?

[Tetrachloride]

1. cayenne?

[happybird]

3. I worry that would get on the birds' feet, too

They own that corner of the deck and I have seen them perched and hopping on that rail.

[RockRaven]

9. Birds are generally much less sensitive to hot peppers than mammals

For example, there is a brand of seed cakes for suet-type feeders which are spiked with hot pepper to discourage squirrels, which we have used in the past. The birds love them, not bothered at all.

I don't know if sprinkling cayenne will solve the cat problem or not, but it shouldn't bother the birds much if you try it.

[happybird]

11. Thank you!

[Donkees]

18. PLEASE don't use cayenne around birds, nestlings, and pollinators because you'll cause more harm

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has advised against its use for some time now, including in bird food. Dusting an area with the powder does affect eyes and respiratory tracts.

Yes catbirds are very friendly and appreciate any care you show towards them.

[happybird]

19. Thank you

Thought I responded the other night but must have fallen asleep. I was iffy on the cayenne so am glad you said something.

Since I can’t have a birdfeeder (bears), tomorrow I’m going to set out a few blueberries for them while I work in the yard and keep an eye out for the cat. Since I’ve never seen that cat in more than 4 years of living here, hopefully it was just passing through the area or skittish enough that being startled the other day will be enough to keep it away.

[Donkees]

20. They are also fond of raisins, bite-sized chopped apple, seeded multigrain sliced bread pieces ...

and will let you know when their plate is empty I offer only small amounts at a time, in order not to attract squirrels.

-- EVER INSPIRED BY OUR SUMMERTIME CATBIRD FRIEND -
https://catbirdlife.com/

[dem4decades]

2. Cats aren't welcome in my yard, at all.

[happybird]

6. I am a cat lover and enjoy visits from Willie, the black cat who lives down the road

He hangs out on the upper deck occasionally and I have enjoyed his sporadic company since my cat, Pooper, passed away a few months ago. She (and all the cats I’ve ever had) was indoor only.

This grey cat I had never seen before this evening.

[dem4decades]

10. We feed birds, cats are killers, they kill song birds.

If someone owns a cat, they should keep it indoors. If a cat kills one of our hummers, well it better not.

[happybird]

13. I agree

Not only for the birds, but because outdoor cats live violent lives and die painful deaths (no matter how sweet and docile they may be when spending time indoors). When I worked at the vet the thing we treated the most were painful abscesses outdoor cats got from fighting.

I'd love to have a birdfeeder or 5 but bears are a problem here. Wanted a beehive, too but no. Bears. Sigh.

[dem4decades]

14. We have an occasional bear, we have plants that attract the hummers.

And our bird feeder is suspended 15 feet in the air. It's a pain in the butt to fill but if a bear comes by he's out of luck. There's coyotes around too, and a bobcat, why anyone would let a cat run outside is beyond me.

[elleng]

4. WOWOWOWOWOW!!!

[happybird]

5. I am so happy they trust me!

Over the past few weeks I think have have gotten used to me and my music. So grateful I was outside when the cat came. Their nest is high up in the shrub and burning bush is pretty bendy, so hoping it wouldn’t support the cat’s weight if it tries to climb in there.

[elleng]

7. It's UTTERLY WONDERful!

[magicarpet]

8. Boy that is a tough one the way that handrail winds through the bush.

You might try trimming the bottom of the bush so you can see in there. Then keep an eye on the bush for the cat hanging around.

Get a spray bottle and mix some cayenne pepper mixed in. Keep an eye out for the cat and spray its face with the spray bottle. Adjust the spray to a stream that way you get better distance and aim.

After you get the cat a few times with the spray it might get the hint and find someplace else to bird hunt. Be vigilant in case the cat is persistent as cats can be.

The cat knows the birds are nesting and hopes to catch the birds off guard. When the eggs hatch keep an extra eye out for them because little birds lack the defense skills of an adult bird so they are pretty much sitting ducks for the cat to prey on.

You might have to cover the handrail with a tarp and tie it on there to keep access to the bush to a minimum for the cat.

Keep us posted.

A bell collar on the cat might help alert the birds the cat is lurking around. But the owner might remove it. If it was your cat it might be worth a try.

How about little bells in the bush around the proximity of the nest ?

Out doors cats are the biggest danger and killers to nesting song birds.

[happybird]

12. Thank you!

Usually I trim that bush back but haven't this year because of the birds. Will do that side tomorrow and try cayenne.

[rockbluff botanist]

15. Cat urban myth strikes again

And, NO, cats are not the biggest killer of birds. That old myth really has staying power. It's been debunked many times over.

Cars, loss of habitat and pesticides are the big three killer of birds. Simply put, people are biggest threat to birds.

My husband and I are birders and avid bird photographers, heavily invested in expensive professional equipment. We have lots of birds and cats here on our farm. We plant only native shrubs and plants that attract and feed birds. That is the single best thing you can do for birds. And, of course donate to Audubon or Cornell Bird Lab.

Cats are going to get the occasional bird. But not near as many as predatory raptors like kites and hawks. Crows and many other birds attack nests too. They eat eggs and nestlings. Swallow tail kites are masters of this behavior. They patrol the tops of trees looking for nests. They are among the most beautiful of birds.

I have a motion sensitive sprinkler device that works very well on cats and most any animal. Look online.

[happybird]

16. Found a cool video!

I know nothing about Catbirds, only yesterday managed to identify what kind of birds my little buddies are, and now trying to learn more about them. This video makes me feel less crazy! They are champion mimics! I’ve heard them making duck-like noises, the gentle “mrrrp mrrrp mrrrp” sound ducks make when swimming, not loud quacking. One of the neighbors has ducks. 😀

https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/an-expert-mimic-the-gray-catbird/

[Hope22]

17. A super soaker water 'gun' has worked for us.

They shoot a stream of water but make quite a swoosh noise that cats do not like. It won’t hurt the cat but will discourage it from coming into that area.