Some Advice and the California Towhee

Today, coming home from school, I saw a white-tailed kite hovering over a field.  Unfortunately, I was in a car, and didn't have a camera, so I couldn't take a photo.  They're very beautiful white birds of prey, and hover over fields to look for their prey.


Advice

Some advice for cat owners.

If you happen to have a cat or two, and they're looking out the window and making a strange "ack-ack-ack" noise, go to the window!  It means they see some little animal outside, most likely a bird.  Many times cats are the first to see birds, so its always worth going to see what they're looking at.  My own cats have helped me see plenty of birds.

 

I never let my cats out unsupervised.  Keeping cats inside is a good idea, not only to keep them safe, but it keeps native mammals, lizards, and birds safe from them.  However, if you really want to let your cat out, try your best to supervise it and consider putting a bell on its collar to warn the prey animals.  Some cats learn to walk quietly with their bell, but it will at least help for a while.  However, the best options, in my opinion, are  not letting the cat out at all, or supervision when outside.

 

If you have an outside cat or feed a stray, you've probably noticed that it attracts other creatures, like raccoons, skunks, opossums, rats, and dogs.  Besides mammals, though, cat food attracts birds as well, so if you have a bowl, don't forget to check during the day for birds.  Also, if there is a bird, make sure there's no cat around.  Cat food provides a lot of much-needed protein for birds, so there is no need to worry that it isn't healthy; it's very healthy, especially in the cold winter, when protein is most needed.

 

 

Speaking of cat food, here is a photo of a California towhee enjoying some.  Towhees are one of the most common visitors to my cat food bowl, likely because they are used to eating protein-rich bugs.  The cat food is probably an easy, tasty, extra protein boost meal for them.  California towhees are common in brushy areas, but their range is very small.  They are found only some parts (mostly coastal) of California and Baja California, and a tiny part of southwest Oregon.  They, like other towhees, kick up leaves with their feet to reveal the bugs beneath.  The young ones occasionally do the same with cat food.  It's fun to watch.

 

California Towhee