My wife and I are wondering if we may be partly responsible for increasing obesity – within the Dorset bird population.

A couple of months ago we installed a new feeding station for our feathered friends.

At the start there were just a couple of sparrows and the odd robin indulging in the food on offer.

We think, however, that the avian species share some kind of communications system.

For the number coming to eat daily has grown to about a dozen sparrows, a family of four chaffinches, two robins, a thrush, a pair of blackbirds and two pigeons.

Apart from eating us out of house and home and in danger of being grounded, as they are getting rather too plump to fly, we have to frequently clean out two large drinking bowls placed at the station.

For many of them enjoy jumping into the bowls and involving themselves in a somewhat Roman-style orgy of bathing together.

We would be pleased if any Dorset Echo reader, who is an ornithologist, could advise us on a weight reduction scheme for these flying visitors who appear to have such voracious appetites.

Friends have told us the answer is not to stop the food supply as the birds would get out of the habit of calling and, as they have given us so much enjoyment during “stay at home” restrictions, we would greatly miss them.

RON KIRBY

Dorchester