National Geographic

Yup, that's a Great White. But it's OK, that one's totally small.

According to the authors of a first of its kind study on bird mortality, the American housecat is a "non-native, invasive species" responsible for the deaths of 500 million North American birds annually.

Nearly 80 percent of the birds were killed by predators, and cats were responsible for 47 percent of those deaths, according to the researchers, from the Smithsonian Institution and Towson University in Maryland. Death rates were particularly high in neighborhoods with large cat populations. Predation was so serious in some areas that the catbirds could not replace their numbers for the next generation, according to the researchers, who affixed tiny radio transmitters to the birds to follow them. It is the first scientific study to calculate what fraction of bird deaths during the vulnerable fledgling stage can be attributed to cats. “Cats are way up there in terms of threats to birds — they are a formidable force in driving out native species,” said Peter Marra of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, one of the authors of the study.

Dr. Marra says cats "are like gypsy moths and kudzu — they cause major ecological disruption." My own disruptor is often reduced to quivering impotent rage by the pigeons that taunt her daily from our fire escape. "One of these days, you miserable flying rats. One of these days."

(Tipped by JMG reader Bradley)

Clip description: "Koko, the famous lowland gorilla who can speak to us through the use of American Sign Language, has long been a fan and good friend of Betty White, the renowned actress and animal rights advocate. The Gorilla Foundation is kicking off this 'Month-of-Love' by releasing a photo slideshow of some of Koko and Betty's tender moments together. White is a board member of the Foundation, and is a big Koko fan herself." No audio, btw.

(Source)

A grand piano has mysteriously appeared on a sandbar in the middle of Miami's Biscayne Bay. It's been there for a week and no prankster or PR wonk has yet to claim credit. The Coast Guard says they have no plan to remove it and that with the next big storm, the piano will likely join hundreds of boats as just another sunken habitat for bay creatures.