IN his letter (Review, week ending September 17), Mr Harvey quotes a peregrine falcon population of 33,000 pairs, citing that well known and respected ornithological journal, "a Manchester paper".

This number is greatly exaggerated. When the last full census of the species was carried out in Britain in 2002, 1,400 breeding pairs were noted. Now, an increase of any bird population by a factor of almost 24 times in eight years would be astonishing but for a top predator like the peregrine with its very specific requirements for nesting sites (a cliff...or something that looks like a cliff...a building perhaps) it is highly unlikely. Perhaps Mr Harvey would like to share with us how it was determined that there are now 33,000 breeding pairs? If he can furnish me with a copy of the article he mentions, I would be more than happy to ask the author myself.

Incidence of peregrines taking kestrels are very rare indeed. Pigeons and doves are the favourite diet of peregrines but this is not true of the sparrowhawk. Male sparrowhawks are too small to take pigeons other than very exceptionally and whilst females will take them, the most common birds in their diet are usually starlings and thrushes.

My job (I'm an ecologist) causes me to spend a lot of time in the countryside, often surveying and counting birds and I have not personally noticed a decline in the number of pigeons and doves. When I checked the facts at a national level, it seems that pigeons and doves are doing very well – the UK wood pigeon population in particular has grown strongly over the last 35 years and the rate of growth is actually increasing. The suggestion then that a decline in pigeon numbers has caused sparrowhawks to take more songbirds does not stand up to scrutiny.

There is evidence to suggest that sparrowhawks can put pressure on the population of some songbird species in certain circumstances but this is not the case for most. If we want to look at the most substantial contribution to songbird decline, we need to look elsewhere. As an example, we do know that one very important factor is the measured, significant fall in insect populations. This has hit songbird breeding hard. Even those birds like house sparrows which, as adults, feed largely on seeds and nuts, need large numbers of soft-bodied insects to feed their chicks during their first few days out of the egg. Without the insects, the chicks die. Simple.

I do feel sorry for Mr Harvey and other folks in the pigeon fancy/racing communities. I can imagine that when you have put a lot of effort into raising your birds it must be heartbreaking to lose one – to whatever cause. It is unfortunate if you are a pigeon breeder living in the Forest of Dean because you are living in a part of the country that, with its river cliffs and abandoned quarries, is home to a particularly high density of breeding peregrines and thus your losses due to predation are likely to be higher than in some other areas. I guess though that if we as human beings choose to release captive-bred versions of the peregrine's favourite prey in an area where there are lots of peregrines, then the outcome is wholly predictable.

Interest in British wildlife is at an all-time high. The BBC's Springwatch series has attracted nearly four million viewers and between them, the Wildlife Trusts and RSPB have nearly two million members who are prepared to put their hands in their pockets every month to help protect the wild environment. Nature is, as Tennyson said, "red in tooth and claw" but to liken those millions of people who want to see first hand how all aspects of our natural world works with those who attend bullfights and dogfights, activities created by man to deliberately cause pain and suffering to animals for human pleasure is entirely spurious. Vocalising and supporting a view such as this will do nothing to further the cause of those who breed and/or race pigeons.

Finally, for those less concerned with wildlife than I am, there is also a sound economic argument for the peregrine falcon and other birds of prey too. More than 50,000 people each year visit Symonds Yat Rock (about the same as the current membership of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association) and tens of thousands more come to enjoy our birds of prey across the area. These visitors come, stay and spend money in our local economy. The value of wildlife tourism in Britain is booming despite the recession as more and more people re-connect with the countryside and chose to holiday in the UK to see things for themselves.

Tourism brings more than £100m a year to the Forest of Dean alone and that supports over 2,700 jobs. Many of these people come here because of our wildlife assets. Does it make economic sense to even comprehend a reduction in those wild assets or perhaps the local pigeon breeding / racing community is proposing to compensate local people directly for their resulting loss of income? – Denis Jackson, Tidenham Chase.