SIR, – The RSPB's media campaign to discredit Scottish sporting estates does it little credit.

Very few right-minded people – whether members of the broader community, or those involved in estate management – condone raptor persecution. The RSPB would do well to remember the axiom 'credit where credit is due'.

Ground-nesting waders, such as lapwing, curlew and oystercatcher, and other iconic species, such as blackgame, are thriving where their environment is being managed for game shooting. This is irrefutable, but has never been publicly acknowledged by the RSPB or any other conservation organisation, as far as I am aware.

There are two greater threats to the long-term future of our greatest native raptor, the golden eagle.

Consider the current political penchant for green energy, evidenced by the proliferation of wind farms either built, under construction, or planned all over the Highlands. These are, in many instances, in prime golden eagle country.

The much-publicised Stronelairig wind farm, for instance, is being built where no fewer than three golden eagle hunting territories overlap. That the massive disturbance resulting from this construction will be impacting on the distribution of prey species, such as black water vole and mountain hare, cannot be doubted.

And, if any data has been collated regarding eagle collisions with wind turbines for Scotland, the energy

firms and RSPB are remarkably coy about releasing them!

The biggest threat, however, and one which may well put the golden eagle on the RSPB's red list of endangered species much quicker than any illegal persecution, has been supported by them for decades. I refer to the introduction of the white tailed sea eagle.

This massive apex predator is spreading inexorably into golden eagle range, competing for prey in the food chain and, if a recent report I heard is true, may actually be killing golden eagles!

That the sea eagle is a boost to eco-tourism is beyond question, but this end could have been met with

a little imagination and forward thinking, with our own, native, Highland eagle.

Steps need to be taken to mitigate the further spread of the sea eagle, before it is too late. Failure to do so will mean the golden eagle may well suffer a similar decline to the capercaillie. Who will the RSPB blame then, I wonder?

Michael MacNally

Home Farm,

Invergarry.