Further to the letter from Bernard Holyoake regarding the feeding of birds in summer (Letters, May 3, 'Time to stop feeding the birds'), we should definitely not stop feeding the birds in our garden during the summer months - this is a year round duty!

It is true that at times birds do over rely on garden feeders but only when times are hard or bad weather persists. Extensive surveys on this subject have been undertaken by the BTO ( British Trust for Ornithology), who support all-year feeding.

At this time of year adult birds exhaustively feed their young with natural foods but will use the garden feeders as a ‘fast food stop’ for themselves which myself and others have seen in practice.

We must give birds a little credit for their ability to raise their young as they see fit so keep the feeders going and make sure that there is water available too.

Keith Chinn

Grange-over-Sands