Bird casualty monitoring is not before time

Sir, – Let me thank the Scottish Gamekeepers Association for calling for bird casualties around wind turbines to be monitored (The Courier, November 13).

It’s not before time a study of this kind was initiated in Scotland.

However, as the gamekeepers and other estate workers often work in close proximity to many of the sites of these machines, I am surprised that they had not already begun this type of activity, given the controversial circumstances they labour under.

Alex Hogg, chairman of the SGA, offered that his members have witnessed dead raptors both underneath and within 200 yards of the turbines.

Given the persistent accusations of persecution by gamekeepers in regard to raptors, I would have thought that these birds might have been retrieved and sent for scientific examination to determine the cause of death. This would appear to have been the next logical step.

This might have dispersed some, if not all, of the cloud of suspicion which lingers around their activities in that area. George Murdoch. 4 Auchcairnie Cottages, Laurencekirk.

How many birds are killed by strikes with wind turbines?