Re: "Birds nesting 25 days earlier due in part to global heating," The Gazette, March 30.
A very informative and interesting story in the March 30 Gazette prompted me to write this letter. Kevin Ma's article noted that since 1970 North America has lost some three billion birds. Climate change has definitely been an important factor in this decline; but, also, are the many millions of homeless cats, who in their effort to find food prey on the eggs, babies, and adults of the bird world. Bird nesting will be in full swing very soon.
The time has come for the City of St. Albert to step up to the mark and begin the investigation of partnering with a non-profit animal rescue organization to operate a cat shelter in St. Albert. The County of Strathcona has begun just such a quest. They are inviting a non-profit rescue to apply to operate a 12-month pilot cat shelter. St. Albertans and city council may not believe that feral and stray cats are a problem in St. Albert, but I myself have fed and given shelter to three different cats over the winter. Last night four cats passed by my front door in their quest for food and mates because, of course, males are looking to pass on their genes by fathering kittens, especially in the spring.
The death toll on bird populations and continuing stray cat tragic stories needs to find a purposeful solution. I would encourage St. Albertans and rescues to email their councillors and the mayor requesting the immediate partnering with a non-profit rescue organization to operate a cat shelter in St. Albert.
Barbara Collier, St. Albert
