SIR – In reply to Dr Whitelegg s letter concerning the absence of house sparrows in the area, I can assure him all is not lost. For years we have had a large number of these friendly birds visit our garden, front and back. We feed birds regularly so hav

SIR - In reply to Dr Whitelegg's letter concerning the absence of house sparrows in the area, I can assure him all is not lost.

For years we have had a large number of these friendly birds visit our garden, front and back.

We feed birds regularly so have a great number of visitors.

At the moment with snow on the ground we have at least eight blackbirds fighting over food on the ground.

The bird feeders are visited by blue and great tits, gold and green finches, chaffinches, robins, grey wagtails, dunnochs, starlings, wood pigeons, collard doves.

Occasional visitors include jays, a lesser-spotted woodpecker and small flocks of long-tailed tits.

Though not welcome, magpies make an occasional visit and crows occupy nearby trees.

We will not tolerate feral pigeons and a sparrow hawk brought one down from the roof and proceeded to devour it on the lawn. All the small birds disappeared for an hour or two.

Fred Oliver, St Albans Road West, Hatfield.