Come to our book discussion, August 14, 2017, 6:45 PM at the University Place Library. Read the book or just come to find out what all the fuss is about. This will be the third book that ABC has read together in the summer, and previous discussions have been fun and informative.
Cat Wars
Named one of Forbes.com’s 10 Best Conservation and Environment Books of 2016, CAT WARS was written by Peter Marra, head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and coauthor of the authoritative Birds of Two Worlds: The Ecology and Evolution of Migration, and by prolific nature writer Chris Santella, author of Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die, etc.
This book has predictably drawn great praise and great hatred, illuminating the war between pet lovers and bird lovers. It has a definite western and northwest perspective, too, mentioning other such “wars,” such as Spotted Owls vs Barred Owls, as well as Double-crested Cormorants vs. salmon. Some of the best quotes are from noted California birder Rich Stallcup. On-line reviews range from “great documentation with lots of studies,” to “this is just junk science.”
Sure, I know all about this, you might think. But think again. It’s much worse than previously thought. New information and conservative extrapolations of data are downright scary.
In the near future, ABC will welcome back Dr. Peter Hodum, who has previously spoken to ABC. Besides northwestern pelagics, he also studies birds on small islands off Chile, and he has had experiences with cats’ predation on rare seabirds there. So we expect to hear some first-hand information in connection with this book’s thesis.
The “other” ABC, American Bird Conservancy, also has been campaigning for years to keep your pet cats indoors and has issued at least two helpful brochures in the past. Their current information is here: https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/
HOW TO GET THE BOOK: Although the list price is 24.95, it is readily available cheaper:
VIRTUAL: AMAZON KINDLE: 15.72
https://smile.amazon.com/Cat-Wars-Devastating-Consequences-Cuddly-ebook/dp/B01EBEIKKW/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1496874802&sr=1-1
VIRTUAL: BARNES & NOBLE NOOK: 17.99
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cat-wars-peter-p-marra/1123485865?type=eBook
AMAZON 3rd PARTY USED: 10.72 + 3.99 S&H
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HALF PRICE BOOKS: 9.99 & 3.99 S&H
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ALIBRIS – 7.98 + 3.99 S&H
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ABEBOOKS – 7.99 + 3.99 S&H
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