REGARDING your article about the threat from pesticides to birds and wildlife in East Lancashire, I wonder if the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is aware of the number of songbirds being killed every year by birds of prey.

The British Trust for Ornithology states there are 32,000 pairs of sparrowhawks and probably 32,000 unattached.

They are "now at capacity levels as permitted by habitat and food supply."

Sparrowhawks eat on average three songbirds a day each - approximately 1,000 a year each or 90 million songbirds a year.

They are increasing at the rate of approximately 1,000 pairs a year and will, therefore, be requiring an additional two million songbirds a year.

The BTO states the peregrine falcon now numbers 1,309 pairs. They do not quote the number of unattached birds, but the total is about 4,500.

They will, if racing pigeons are available, eat on average of 300 each every year.

I hope that Mr John Armitage can do something to stop this slaughter of the songbirds and racing pigeons in this country.

A LEWIS (Secretary, Great Harwood Housing Society), School Street, Great Harwood.

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