LETTERS The pigeon problem
Sir: Simon Courtauld ('Yum yum, pigeons again', 27 May) is quite wrong to suggest that the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds takes a blinkered view of alleged problems with birds of prey and that we are 'almost . . . wilfully blind to the fact that some birds really do kill large numbers of other birds'.
The RSPB does not deny that spar- rowhawks kill millions of small birds every year, and is well aware that some small bird populations have declined, in a few cases quite alarmingly. However, there is scant evidence to link these two facts. Many of the declining species are not commonly caught by sparrowhawks, and other birds which are taken regularly, such as tits and robins, are not falling in numbers.
The pigeon problem involves large num- bers of domesticated birds released into a wild environment full of natural hazards, of which birds of prey are just one. It also involves making difficult decisions about whether it is right to control wild birds of prey (in one case a relatively rare species) in the interests of a sport or hobby. To what extent the pigeon issue really involves spar- rowhawks is far from clear. Without prop- erly quantified information on the scale of pigeon-killing, the calls for control cannot even be considered, let alone taken serious- ly. Far from 'narrow-minded environmen- talism', this is surely a responsible, rational approach.
Pigeon-fanciers are not alone in calling for birds-of-prey control, nor in doing so while failing to produce a sound scientific case. While we believe that calls for con- trol are unjustified, we are nevertheless ready to play a full part in discussing the issue. We believe that finding deterrents, not killing birds of prey, must be the answer.
Graham Wynne
Director of Conservation, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire
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