Letters: Little evidence for raptor claims

Published on Tuesday 24 May 2011 15:06

DOUGLAS McAdam of the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association makes three statements which must be corrected (Debate, 22 May).

Firstly, no science exists that proves the link between raptors, the decline in songbirds and waders or the increased predation of lambs and in fact there is now a solid body of peer reviewed science that proves these are nothing more than rural myths.

Secondly, a legal remedy already exists for the control of ravens, it is just that few licences have been requested and even fewer birds have been shot. So is there an issue or is this just a smokescreen to kill more birds of prey to protect game bird stocks?

Thirdly, to say that "society cannot hide away from the abhorrent fact that golden eagles have been poisoned" is a bit rich as society knows where the blame lies and it is with shooting estates. The Scottish government knows this too and that is why they introduced the principle of vicarious liability on owners of shooting estates in the recent Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill, and if the illegal killing continues the licensing of shooting estates will be next.

So, we have the shooting industry seeking a derogation in the law to "control" birds of prey whilst they continued to disregard it with their illegal shooting, trapping and poisoning of the very same birds.

How can Mr McAdam expect a change in the very law his industry continues to break with such regularity?

Logan D Steele, Auchterarder

THE Scottish Rural Property and Business Association are not flying a kite, or any other avian raptor, in going to the SNP government to ask for a new licensing arrangement to kill birds of prey (News, 8 May).

The SNP seem totally enchanted with sporting estates, even supporting, snaring to kill non target species (aka "vermin"), and seem quite at ease with the exotic oligarchy of private and corporate land monopoly interests which comprise land tenure in Scotland.

The new Holyrood government may be the best security guards the SRPBA have at hand.

Ron Greer, Blair Atholl