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The Aug. 30 column by Michael Abraham, "These bird lovers encourage cat owners to keep pets inside" on the topic of birds and cats was a disappointment to me and, I believe, to anyone who has looked into this issue to find the facts. The personal anger and frustration expressed by the writer (and his father) needed to be balanced by objectivity.

Almost all ornithologists from Roger Torey Peterson to Bridget Stutchbury ("Silence of the Songbirds") and many others agree that the primary cause of the loss of songbirds is habitat loss, followed by widespread use of pesticides and fungicides in the U.S. and those countries to which the birds migrate.

It is surprising that Abraham's emotionally loaded column gave the impression that cats, themselves the victims of human irresponsibility, are the primary cause of the diminishment of our birds. This is not the truth.

One wonders why those who say they care for birds and other wildlife do not seem to confront their real enemies: the development that destroys bird and wildlife habitats in our own region and the irresponsible use of pesticides and other chemical products.

If the issue is to be discussed let us have all the facts, and look for solutions that respect all life.

Don't forget general aviation

The Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive Airport expansion plans to lure bigger, faster business jets into the New River Valley ("Wings of Change," Oct. 4 news story) fails entirely to address the needs of the most prevalent users of the airport: general aviation.

On any given day at the airport, smaller, single-engine aircraft dominate the local traffic through pilot training, charter operations and private owners using their aircraft for business and pleasure flying. What is amazing about the authority's myopia is that a solid opportunity for business investment and growth is being ignored by shifting priorities away from general aviation to a market that has been pummeled by the economic downturn: corporate jet traffic.

Aircraft owners based at the airport have been requesting hangars for years with no action -- hangars that would earn five times the income of a tie-down space.

Currently, the existing 11 hangars have a waiting list for occupancy that by some estimates is indefinite, while owners are forced to keep their expensive assets tied down outside or leave the area for more general aviation-friendly airports.

Developing the airport now to serve general aviation is good for business through fuel sales, flight training and maintenance. The customers have been waiting patiently for action with their checkbooks in hand.

A dangerous intersection

I am writing a plea to the citizens of Montgomery County. As a resident living close to the intersection of North Main Street and U.S. 460, I have direct knowledge of several accidents happening in this extremely unsafe location.

Yet another devastating accident occurred on the evening of Sept. 30. I wonder when enough is enough?

How many people must be injured or lose their lives before Blacksburg will install a light?

Simply dropping the speed limit down from 65 to 55 mph a few hundred feet from the intersection is like adding insult to injury; a Band-Aid that doesn't fully cover the wound.

I am not aware of any plans at this time to make the area safer.

I admit to some ignorance on the matter, so I hope that considerations for some kind of traffic control are underway. However, if not, then the town needs to remove the focus and money spent on getting a new courthouse, and instead put those efforts toward safeguarding our residents and visitors.