Letter: Protect the eagles

Regarding your report (9 December) that the RSPB is to receive £235,900 to reintroduce more white-tailed sea eagles to eastern Scotland, much will depend on the extent and quality of their habitat.

Scotland wasn't safe for sea eagles in the past two centuries, as people with guns would shoot them. Hence the disappearance of this magnificent bird from Scottish skies in 1918. Another cause of mortality is fast emerging as being just as dangerous: wind turbines. Many eagles have been killed by their fast-moving blades, which rotate at what appears to be a slow pace, and this deceives the birds. But most wind farms are not monitored for bird mortality (eg, none is in Scotland).

Unless a coherent policy of habitat conservation is implemented, both the sea eagle and golden eagle will sooner or later disappear from Scottish skies.

MARK DUCHAMP

President, Save the Eagles International

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