Easynews wrote in message
. ..
Blaming predators for the decline of
songbirds is barking up the wrong tree- improve the habitat, make sure the
food sources are there (insects! yes, even for seed-eating birds in
summer)
and populations will do well, including birds of prey.

Of course spraying the garden to buggery just when the greenfly and black
fly and other small aphids emerge doesn't help. Songbirds need insectivorous
high protein foods to rear nestlings. When Mr and Mrs Suburbia throw up
their hands in horror at the sight of a few greenfly on their precious
roses, they rush for their can of chemicals. They can always blame the
decline of the songbird population on someone else like cat
owners/farmers/sqyuirrels/corvids and the like after all.