Contact: , Director of Public Relations, American Bird Conservancy, 202/234-7181 ext. 216

( Washington, DC) -- American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is today launching "Project PredatorWatch," a new citizen-science project to investigate the impact of free-ranging cats and other predators on wild birds in the U.S. and Canada. The PredatorWatch survey can be found at www.abcbirds.org/catsa

"Any citizen can participate in Project PredatorWatch and provide valuable information needed to conserve birds and other wildlife by clicking a few buttons on their computer," said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy.

Participants will provide important information to scientists and conservationists such as: 1) helping to identify birds and other wildlife species that are most likely affected by interactions with cats and other predators; 2) determining whether predator/wildlife interactions are affected by season or climate; 3) and determining whether certain wildlife species, age or sex classes are more vulnerable to interactions with predators.

"Scientists estimate that free-roaming cats and other predators kill hundreds of millions of birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians each year," said Fenwick. "Cat predation is an added stress to wildlife populations already struggling to survive habitat loss, pollution, pesticides, and other human impacts."

Anyone who observes a predator/wildlife interaction in their yard can simply complete a brief on-line survey accessible through ABC's Cats Indoors! website at www.abcbirds.org/cats (on the top left side under Quick Links). Results of this project may be reported in the media and ABC newsletter articles, and may help further identify future wildlife conservation projects.

In 1997, ABC launched the Cats Indoors! Campaign for Safer Birds and Cats to educate cat owners, decision makers, and the general public that cats, wildlife and people all benefit when cats are kept indoors, in an outdoor enclosure, or trained to go outside on a harness and leash. ABC has available education materials, including fact sheets, a guide What to do About Your Neighbor's Cats in Your Yard, the popular brochure Keeping Cats Indoors Isn't Just For The Birds, an Educator's Guide for Grades K-6, and print and radio Public Service Announcements.

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ABC is the only 501(c)(3) organization that works solely to conserve native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC acts to safeguard the rarest bird species, restore habitats, and reduce threats, while building capacity in the conservation movement. ABC is the voice for birds, ensuring that they are adequately protected; that sufficient funding is available for bird conservation; and that land is protected and properly managed to maintain viable habitat. ABC sets the bird conservation agenda by using the best science available to determine the highest priorities and the best solutions, and then communicating these priorities to the conservation community and the public through alliances, partnerships, and networks. ABC counts among its staff some of the foremost experts in bird conservation in the United States, and partners with many others throughout the Americas. ABC is a membership organization that is consistently awarded a top, four-star rating by the independent group, Charity Navigator.