Sir, – John Lee (May 10th) equates the reduction in numbers of smaller birds, or songbirds, to the increase in magpie numbers. If only the loss of so many songbirds could be so easily explained. Many long-term studies have proven that magpie numbers do not have a detrimental effect on songbird numbers. Indeed there is evidence to the contrary.
Because the predation by magpies at this stage of the breeding season is so easily observed, it is often misconstrued by the casual observer as being overly destructive when it is merely the normal cut-and-thrust of nature.
Rather than call for the reduction of magpie numbers, we would be better employed in looking at the real causes of a decline in songbirds and in particular the high mortality rate among newly fledged birds. Then we might do something about the loss of habitat, the use of pesticides, the free roaming of cats, the overuse of slug pellets and all the other factors that actually have an impact. – Yours, etc,
PAT MULLEN,
Kilkerley,
Dundalk,
Co Louth.
Sir, – I agree that it is distressing to see and hear magpies attack nesting birds and their eggs and chicks but they are not the cause of the apparent decline in songbirds in our cities. What makes life more difficult for small birds is having nowhere to build nests safely.
Our suburban gardens are getting smaller and tidier, with fewer shrubs, trees or damaged roofs for small birds to nest safely in. On top of this, birds have fewer places to forage for food in the nesting season as we increasingly keep our gardens plant-free.
As if this were not bad enough, cats probably kill more small birds than magpies and they seem to be increasing in number, while magpie numbers have been steady for about 20 or 30 years. If you want to help birds, here are some tips: put a bell on your cat and keep it in at night; provide nest boxes and maintain or plant hedges and shrubs. Further excellent information is also available on the advice section of the Birdwatch Ireland website. – Yours, etc,
DES HIGGINS,
Castle Park,
Monkstown,
Dublin.