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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KnockerNorton" data-source="post: 1684829" data-attributes="member: 66452">It's the main theory for some species, and with good evidence. But that does not mean that it is the only reason, or even the only significant reason. It is extremely unlikely that one factor is going to be at the root or any one species decline. There are umpteen combining factors, of which predation is very likely to be one. The RSPB report reviews current evidence, we still have almost no idea what is causing e.g. woodland bird declines (although we do have a good idea that predation limits several farmland birds - see work on Grey Partridge).But the landscape they live in now, and the population densities they achieve, is the not the situation they evolved in and is not stable either. As such, they are still adapting to the current 'new' situation of man-made landscapes. In addition, it doesn't matter to a Sparrowhawk if it happens to eat most of the local Song Thrushes and help them to local extinctions - as long as there are plenty of Blackbirds. The exact species only matters to the prey, not the predator. Sparrowhawks would probably cope quite happily in a world full of Collared Doves and nothing else, so it's easy to see how extinctions of a handful of species wouldn't bother them too much - as long as some prey species are doing well.I don't think so. The relationship between Sparrowhawks and prey populations seems to be rather under-estimated!Only in response to your comment: "(including Songbirds, which I'm guessing is where you are coming from)" [your capital S]</blockquote>

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