Posted by Brian Rapoza on October 09, 2016 at 23:45:25
As part of our ongoing efforts to quantify the feral cat population in Miami-Dade County, Tropical Audubon Society will hold a countywide feral cat count on Sunday, October 30, 2016. This event has been added to the TAS calendar. We are seeking the assistance of the local birding community to collect feral cat data on this designated count date at parks, other natural areas, or anywhere within Miami-Dade County where feral cat populations are present. A data collection form has been created for this purpose and can be downloaded at the link below. Tropical Audubon Society will compile collected data with the intention of sharing it with Miami-Dade County policymakers. Participants are asked to email me (fieldtrips@tropicalaudubon.org) prior to October 30 so that we can get a sense of which areas are being covered. WE ASK THAT THE BIRDBOARD NOT BE USED BY PARTICIPANTS TO INDICATE PLANS TO PARTICIPATE OR ANNOUNCE AREAS BEING COVERED. Completed data collection forms, along with any photographic evidence collected, should be submitted as soon as possible after October 30 to the email address indicated on the form. It is our belief that the local birding community recognizes the clear and ongoing threat that resident and migrant birds face as a result of an uncontrolled and growing feral cat population. For information on the extent of the problem nationally, see https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/. We are confident that local birders will unite in this citizen science effort to collect the data we need to demonstrate the extent of the problem locally and argue for implementation of science-based solutions. I thank you all for your anticipated participation. Brian Rapoza Field Trip Coordinator Tropical Audubon Society