Sir, I have been a member of the RSPB for more than 40 years, twice as long as Mr Murray (letter, May 3), and I certainly do not agree with his assertion that the society favours predators over their prey. The often-voiced lament that the bad birds are eating all the good birds has more basis in sentiment than in science.

On a population scale, the sizes of unpersecuted bird of prey populations are governed by prey populations and not vice-versa, as numerous studies have shown. A diversity of reasons accounts for declines in many familiar bird species, and among these predation by cats has a very large effect on songbird populations. Unlike wild cats, domestic cats occur locally at densities far above what could be possible in nature since they are supported by food handouts at home. In effect, they are subsidised predators, that kill millions of small birds and other animals every year.

We should welcome the return of raptors to our skies. They are magnificent birds whose presence now is not the result of overindulgent protection but a case of recuperation of ground lost under relentless persecution by human beings over several centuries. Bird of prey densities in much of Britain are still far below the carrying capacity of their habitats. This is no time to start killing them again.

Dr Ernest Garcia
Guildford, Surrey

Explore Letters

• Feedback