WHAT A pity Raymond Metcalfe (Letters, June 29) had to accuse rescue centres of “meddling with nature” relating to birds being cared for in large numbers.

Far from “meddling with nature”, rescue centres are mostly redressing the balance of nature by giving our injured wildlife a precious second chance in a world where man, in general, is the meddler- in-chief.

Herring gulls, which I am caring for, are now endangered worldwide and on the red list of species at serious risk.

I personally am very proud that I’m able to return to the wild more than 700 birds a year.

He asks, “Where have all our garden birds gone?”

Look no further than the domestic cat, which is making serious inroads into our song-bird populations.

This is a fact: Our ten million cats kill more than 160 million items of prey each year, the large majority being garden birds.

Slow worms, lizards and frogs are also killed in large numbers and, even if you are a cat lover (I am too), you can’t overlook the fact that the cat population is at much too high a level in this country.

If it could be significantly reduced, possibly by compulsory neutering, then the numbers of garden birds would soon increase I’m sure.

I will continue to care for all the wildlife that is brought to me, in the hope I can help to put back into the wild the creatures that man is continuing to try to exterminate.

Roger Musselle, Downs Valley Road, Woodingdean