Wildlife Gardening: My subjects were sleeping, 1 by indirt

indirt wrote:
You do sound very sad. Can I give you some hope on the flooding issue?
As much as nests might flood, the birds would fly away to build another nest another day - and they generally do to replace the one lost.
Butterfly eggs
"exchange air through tiny water-repellent pores through the shell (as many as 14,000, occupying as much as 12 percent of the egg's surface area). The pores are so efficient that eggs can survive under raindrops or even if flooded." pg.31 The Butterflies of North America by James A. Scott

God has that all taken care of. What responsibility He has given to us we are sadly falling behind. (Equi - I know you are with me on this): Those outdoor house cats/barn cats eat millions of songbirds every year in WI alone according to NWF. Around here, there are many farms/dairies that the feral cats "just show up" and they feed them to keep them around to mouse. Cats just aren't selective hunters - they kill mice, birds, bunnies, etc.
So many people think that they "belong" outside, when actually all that does is greatly shorten their life span. Around here there are many predators that would love a kitty for breakfast, not to mention diseases and parasites - and people let them back in the house - often as not, with their kids.

There are also lots and lots killed on the road. Yet they multiply like rabbits.

Domestic cats are domestic because they belong inside. Wild cats like the tiger, cougar, leopard, oscelot, etc. etc. all hunt when they need to eat. As big as the tiger is, it only needs one big kill/wk.-10 days. Lazy, it won't leap more than 3-4 times for the kill - it will wait for something slower and less agile - most likely old and dying.
Domestic kitties, even farm kitties, don't hunt for food. Sure, sometimes they will eat their kill, but they don't have to b/c they are being fed. They hunt all the time for "fun". Anyone who lets their kitties outside is the cause of countless, needless murders that upset the eco system of the region - hawks/owls are losing the competition for the same food source as are other native animals.
Not to mention a lot of mad-behind-the back neighbors who keep digging kitty poo out of their gardens where their plants used to be (I'm speaking for others as well as myself).

And there are laws out there against letting them outside not on a leash. So many reasons to keep kitty inside. So many people who don't know them.

I hate being so negative, but sometimes is necessary. To end on a happy note - this is a pic of my new baby - found him on a farm starving at 4-5 wks. with infections in eyes and lungs - wouldn't have lived another few days. Here he is healthy, except still trying to get rid of a few ear mites, and he is about 10 wks. Saved his brother, too, but gave him away to a nice home. Both very lovey.