IT is good to read that moorland birds are doing well on the three grouse moor estates mentioned in your article (“Bird species bounce back on the moors”, The Herald, November 25). Unfortunately for some species and in some places, the reality is very different. For example, a comprehensive study of peregrines in north-east Scotland last year revealed the following percentage occupations of breeding territories of this species per habitat/land use categories: coast, 65 per cent; lowland farmland, 64 per cent; deer forest, 36% per cent and grouse moorland, seven per cent.

Patrick Stirling-Aird,

Secretary, Scottish Raptor Study Group,

Old Kippenross, Dunblane.