I READ with interest Simon Farr’s report last week on Wycombe District Council’s planned pigeon cull to remove the hundreds of birds from Wycombe’s town centre and ‘horrified animal lover’ Ellen Wise’s response. The use of hawks may be considered by some to be an unsavoury method to help deal with the problem, but it is, after all, encouraging nature to deal with the problem in nature’s way.

Hawks kill prey for food. Their survival over the centuries has been dependent upon their speed and efficiency in despatching their prey. Their presence will undoubtedly cause the pigeons to leave the area and roost elsewhere.

Another animal of prey is the so-called ‘domestic’ cat. Despite being well fed by humans, their natural instinct is also to hunt and kill.

The difference here is that they no longer kill to eat, but act out their natural behaviour by catching, playing and tormenting birds and other small creatures until they are lifeless – a frightening and lingering death for the victims. I wonder whether these ‘animal lovers’ who so condemn the use of hawks are also the owners of cats?

During the last few weeks I have had the unpleasant experience of finding two bird’s nests in my garden decimated and their fledglings killed by neighbouring cats. Such a loss to our valuable wildlife would seem to go unnoticed by our urban ‘animal lovers’ and yet the prolific population of pigeons manage to tug at the proverbial heart strings.

Another misguided pastime is the feeding of vast quantities of bread to ducks and swans. This inappropriate foodstuff is not only unsuitable and lacking in natural nutrients for the birds, but can dramatically shorten their lives.

I therefore think it is hypocritical to condemn one action whilst blindly supporting other more cruel activities.

Janet B Smith, Clapton Approach, Wooburn Green.