Extreme positions

I wish to thank Lucy McRobert for her remarkably sensitive and wellwritten piece on Wally the Walrus, including as it does a condemnation of extreme animal rights supporters ( Birdwatch 351: 62).

Yes, they are clearly disconnected from nature, but they are not the only ones guilty of such extreme views. Willingness to ignore reality is also evident in the shooting community. Their continued insistence that the management techniques used on driven grouse estates, mainly by heather burning and eradicating any competition, are conserving wildlife is without foundation.

The increase in some bird species on grouse moors, especially waders, such as European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing and Eurasian Curlew is matched by reductions in many other species, notably Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Skylark, Whinchat and Carrion Crow. Mammals such as Red Fox, Stoat, Weasel and Mountain Hare are all likely to be fewer on grouse moors, as they are regularly shot or trapped by gamekeepers. The damage done to invertebrates by routine burning of heather is difficult to assess, but is likely to be significant. In conservation, as in life, there is no monopoly of

wisdom, but it seems that moderate and rational views often end up being attacked from both sides, especially in the world of tweets and Facebook posts. All credit to Lucy for not falling into this trap. Pete Rowberry, via email