Bird brains

As a one-time member of the RSPB Young Ornithologists’ Club and still a keen bird lover, I appreciated the fine article by Fiona McCade (“Golden chance to adopt eagle”, Perspective, 30 January).

As well as her obvious knowledge of Scotland’s fauna, Ms McCade is wise to the ways of another wily Scots bird, the Greater Attention Seeker (AKA the lesser- spotted MSP), and neatly corrected the inaccurate and deliberately provocative comments of Jackson Carlaw regarding the quintessentially Scottish Golden Eagle.

Mr Carlaw is a well-known attention seeker and I suspect he knows that the examples he uses are ridiculous.

For centuries, we in Scotland have used the Golden Eagle in heraldry, religion and other ways. Does Mr Carlaw argue that these should all be erased?

However, while I support Ms McCade’s choice regarding the eagle, she does admit that it is the symbol of many nations and perhaps we should be different and choose an unusual bird, but one peculiar to Scotland. The Scottish Crossbill springs to mind.

But then, with Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw, fresh in my memory, perhaps Lophophanes cristatus, the crested tit, is a more appropriate choice.

The shy crested tit is largely confined to ancient Caledonian pine forests and Scots pine.

Yes, a quirky bird with a thatch atop from a near extinct habitat sounds right for me.

Any resemblance to Mr Carlaw is purely coincidental.

Tom Minogue

Victoria Terrace

Dunfermline, Fife

The RSPB’s idea to have a Golden Eagle on our St Andrew’s flag is brilliant. All other flags in this country have an emblem in the centre.

R Forrest (Letters, 29 January) suggests perhaps a chicken might be a more appropriate choice, depending on the result of the referendum.

If Mr R Forrest was a chicken walking out on a moor he would very soon be dinner for Golden Eagle.

Sheila Tate

Duns