BEWARE THE ENEMY WITHIN

In September’s issue you had an item on the RSPB managing to kill an Osprey chick whilst ringing the nest. I wondered whether there had been any action under the Wildlife and Countryside Act taken against them for, say, Gross Negligence or interfering with a protected bird’s nest. In all probability, this is unlikely as no gamekeeper was involved.

Unfortunately, this cynical attitude stems from my own experience of the RSPB while trying to protect the birdlife on the Strathdon Castle Estate when T-in-the-Park moved there. There were attempts to destroy an Osprey nest, then a cherry picker and men trying to deter the birds from settling. River banks were netted to prevent kingfishers from nesting, and fields mown at the height of Skylark nesting season. Yet all pleas to the RSPB were met with inertia.

The most depressing part was that all the so-called experts giving advice were young people who make a living from wildlife. This approach goes all the way to the Scottish Government who told Scottish Natural Heritage to change their stance on set-off distances from nests so planning permission could be granted – a very dangerous precedent.

‘Beware The Enemy Within' is how one should regard many of those involved in the so-called protection of wildlife, whereas gamekeepers have nowhere to hide. If the two sides can't work together our rich, diverse wildlife will be the loser. Mark Liddiard, Perthshire