From Today's New York Times

To the Editor:

Re "A Retirement Villa in the Desert for the Chattering Class of Birds" (front page, April 29):

William Blake wrote, "A robin redbreast in a cage/Puts all Heaven in a rage."

Though clearly the birds at the Oasis sanctuary are lucky to be there, and lucky to be alive, I hope that reading about them will make people rethink any idea of purchasing and condemning to a caged life an animal whose natural right it is to soar across the heavens.

Karen Dawn
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
April 30, 2006