Letter: Bird myths fly in the face of facts

THE Scottish Raptor Study Groups, as well as monitoring raptors as such, survey ravens due to their ecological affinity with some raptor species, notably the peregrine ( News, 2 May). The recent scientific paper pointing to lack of association between recovery of raven populations and decline of five wader species acknowledges that there are information gaps which merit further research. Nevertheless the paper represents the current state of knowledge on the matter.

The way forward for those who are concerned about raven predation on ground nesting birds is to fund a properly constructed research programme aimed at providing additional information on this issue. The alternative, of relying on anecdote and supposition, should not form the basis for any wildlife management policy.

In the meantime a practical measure would be to curb unwise land management practices where these lead to an excessive abundance of carrion. The myth of flocks of up to 300 ravens roaming the moors should be exposed as such numbers are associated with communal roosts, from which ravens disperse widely during the day when flocks of 20 to 30 birds (generally less) may be found.

Patrick Stirling-Aird, Secretary, Scottish Raptor Study Groups, Dunblane