I WISH to add my comments to those of Mr A G Reeson concerning the lack of birds around his house (Letters, February 21).

Like this gentleman, we have no garden, but, unlike him, we live in a second-floor flat, with a lounge window only a few yards from a mature sycamore tree. So our view is, in effect, half way up a tree and very good for seeing birds.

During the past few years (and especially in winter when the leave have gone) we have had an astonishing array of birds to watch - too many to list here, but including many tit and finch varieties, treecreepers, the odd sparrow hawk and even, on one occasion, a fine cock pheasant.

But, for some reason, this winter, like Mr Reeson, we have seen practically zilch. The nuts and sunflower seeds have been untouched. Why? Global warming? GM crops? Other pollution? Does anyone have any ideas?

Please do not blame the sparrow hawk - no indigenous predator renders its prey species extinct.

Trisha Scott,

West Park Terrace,

Falsgrave Road,

Scarborough.

Updated: 09:19 Tuesday, February 28, 2006