I refer to The Times' report Southern England Sees Decline In Birds (April 23) saying that farmland birds in southern England have suffered declines in the face of more intensive farming. According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), this is largely a result of changing farming practices and land use patterns across England, especially in the south, where the effects of agricultural intensification have been felt more severely.

Birds such as corn buntings, linnets and turtle doves all saw their populations decline by more than a quarter over the 15-year period under study. But others, including woodpigeons, saw numbers increase. The turtle-dove is declining in numbers in England although it has long been a protected bird there.

By contrast, the woodpigeon is increasing in numbers in England although it is so heavily shot everywhere in the UK that woodpigeon shooting has become a staple financial feature of British field-sports tourism.

It is obvious that the turtle-dove in England is in decline not because of shooting but because of agricultural economics. Yet, has the Maltese public ever seen the slightest evidence of a BirdLife Malta campaign against British agricultural practices? Has their partner, the RSPB, ever made public protests against such practises? Did both organisations ever raise even one single petition to the EU in protest? Is it because they find traditional Maltese hunting an easier, more convenient and lucrative target? Is it because inflaming people's emotions against Maltese hunters brings in more money into their pockets? I, for one, do not need answers.