‘stretching kitty’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Live near Glover Park/American University? Own an outdoors kitty? Then volunteer your feline to participate in an upcoming research study by Smithsonian Institution’s Migratory Bird Center. Starting this summer, the center will begin studying outdoor cats’ interactions with wildlife using miniature video cameras (aka “CatCams”) that oddly look like collars with cassette tapes.
The researchers are also interested in, what is nicely termed, your cat’s “prey returns,” which they will document (assuming you can tell what it is) and compare to what they learn from the cats who wear cameras. The research aims to learn more about cats’ lives and experiences and help them (and owners) better understand the interactions of outdoor cats with wildlife. For instance, why no one has ever seen two cats having sex–just joking ;)
If you are interested in participating, contact dauphinen@si. edu or reitsmar@si. edu. Or write to:
Neighborhood Nestwatch
Attention: Bob Reitsma
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
National Zoological Park
P.O. Box 37012, MRC 5503, Washington, DC 20013-7012
A born and bred New Yorker, Rebecca made the big trip “down south” to DC in 2006 and hasn’t looked back. She spends her days strategizing/planning/ideating how interactive products can help her clients and change the world. In her free time, she explores DC’s ever expanding bar, restaurant and small business scene, plays a crap ton of soccer, attends concerts that contribute to her sleep deprivation and embarks on local adventures. Read why Rebecca loves DC or follow her on twitter.
