RE Trisha Scott's query, "Where have all the birds gone" (Letters, February 28).

Although she says that sparrowhawks cannot be responsible, my experiences do not support this claim.

My garden is large with more than 200 trees and shrubs, and I have recorded 41 species of birds.

However, after sparrowhawks were made a protected species, the number of birds began to decline, and now the only visitors are wood pigeons, collared droves, pheasants, tits and blackbirds. Whereas the latter used to be quite tame, they are now extremely nervous, i.e. even a face at a window puts them to flight.

At first I was puzzled by the decline and then I began to witness regular attacks by sparrowhawks, also evidence of further kills in various parts of the garden.

Many complaints have been made to the RSPB about the protection order for sparrowhawks.

H Brown,

Rillington,

Malton.

Updated: 10:46 Tuesday, March 07, 2006