Prevalence, species impact, and outcomes of cat predation on wild bird admissions at BirdCare Aotearoa
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Lloren, Paolina
McMenamin, Chloe
Cameron, Kristie
McMenamin, Chloe
Cameron, Kristie
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2025-11-06
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Conference Contribution - Oral Presentation
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Keyword
BirdCare Aotearoa
New Zealand
birds
wildlife protection
domestic cats (Felis catus)
predatory species
animal welfare
New Zealand
birds
wildlife protection
domestic cats (Felis catus)
predatory species
animal welfare
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Lloren, P.L., McMenamin, C.M., & Cameron, K.E.C. (2025, November, 6). Prevalence, species impact, and outcomes of cat predation on wild bird admissions at BirdCare Aotearoa [Paper presentation]. School of Environmental and Animal Sciences Research Symposium 2025, Auckland, New Zealand
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/7052
Abstract
This retrospective study analysed 38,717 wildlife patient records from 2018 to 2025 at BirdCare Aotearoa, Auckland’s largest avian wildlife rehabilitation centre, to investigate the impact of domestic cat (Felis catus) predation on bird admissions. Domestic cats were identified as the predominant cause of predation-related admissions, accounting for 93.5% (7,612/8,139) of all predation cases and 19.7% (7,612/38,717) of total admissions. Of the 134 avian species recorded, 62 (46.3%) were admitted due to confirmed predation events, making predation the third most common cause of admission (21%; 8,139/38,717). Introduced bird species comprised the majority of cat-predated admissions (76.7%; 6,244/8,139), followed by native species (23.0%; 1,869/8,139), with a small proportion of unidentified species (0.3%; 27/8,139). The prognosis for cat-predated birds was poor, with a mortality rate of 78% (6,345/8,139) due to the severity of injuries sustained. Among native species, the silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), and sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) were most impacted. Birds commonly found in urban and suburban environments were disproportionately represented, highlighting the ecological consequences of free-roaming domestic cats in human-modified landscapes. Despite limitations in data completeness and quality, these findings underscore the significant threat domestic cats pose to urban and suburban avifauna in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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