PREVENTING FEEDER PREDATION BY CATS by Joy and Cam Finlay

House cats, dogs, squirrels, weasels, goshawks, kestrels, merlins and shrikes prey on birds at a feeder. Cats are usually considered the greatest threat; they take more birds than all other predators combined. To prevent or discourage cat predation remove all ambush possibilities within a 2 to 3 metre radius of the feeder. No bushes, boxes, perennial plant material or rocks should be present within this radius. Place a piece of smooth metal around nearby tree trunks and around the feeder pole to prevent-cats from climbing within striking distance.

Some people do not like aggressive squirrels at a feeder - they will drive birds away. They can jump long distances to reach a food supply. A tilting disc set about 30 cm below the tray will discourage a squirrel from climbing.

Avian predators including merlin and shrike will make numerous tries before catching a meal. They must eat too. By leaving these birds alone you may see some very interesting sights of predator-prey interaction. The predator usually removes the weaker prey, allowing the stronger ones to obtain more food and surviving until spring to produce strong healthy young for next year.

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