Perhaps trying to prove they aren't biased, our local daily does publish
the occasional pro-wildlife letter:

MANKIND IS WILDLIFE'S DEADLIEST ENEMY

05 September 2006

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk

In answer to Bill Short who thinks birds of prey are responsible for the
lack of songbirds in his area (WMN, September 2) I think we should look
at the bottom of the food chain, i.e. the insect populations. I read
recently in the BBC wildlife magazine that we are losing one species
every day. Most songbirds live on insects - if you looked in any garden
shed, I would like to bet that you would find at least one poison to
kill insects and/or slugs and snails.

If there is nothing for these birds to feed their young how can they
survive in urban areas?

The same thing happens on our farms. Most of today's gardens are
perfect, no bugs allowed, without the food put out on bird feeders, a
lot of garden birds would not make it.

Birds are also trapped and netted for the pet trade, especially finches.

In other countries and here, in some communities, they are also pickled
- this was also in the Wildlife magazine. With all this going on how can
we put the blame on birds of prey? All birds prey on something.

And what does he mean about badgers causing problems? To the birds?

I think mankind is the biggest threat to the wildlife on this planet.

Jan Curtis

Ashwater