THIS is my reply to 'Songbird carnage' by E Harvey of Mile End, Coleford (Sep 17).
You keep pigeons as a hobby, or sport and it obviously costs you money, so I can appreciate your concerns as the peregrine falcon will prey on them.
You say that "peregrines will attack pigeons with no intention of wanting food but seemingly just for practice."
Yes this is practice, practice for the young birds. It is how the parent bird teaches its young, it is natural behaviour and it has been going on for centuries, not just the last couple of years.
You also added in your letter "these birds are killers and that anyone who enjoys a kill by them are no better than those who attend bullfights and dogfights."
This is a rather wild statement to make, as what is going on with these birds is natural behaviour.
Our birds of prey hunt for food, they are not put in cages and forced to attack another animal as in dog and bull fights. Comparing a wildlife enthusiast, watching a peregrine hunting, to a dog fight is wrong!
The peregrine falcon is not the only animal in this country that preys on other species. Foxes and stoats eat rabbits and pigeons eat insects and worms. What is the difference? They are all living creatures.
I feel that your view and focus on the songbird is to take other people's focus away from the fact that you are only concerned with your pigeons.
If I kept a rabbit and a fox took it, I would not call for the cull of the fox. You should think more carefully before you call for the cull or eradication of a species.
God help the insects and worms, E. Harvey will not! – Robin Ward.