David Stubley's expose on peregrine falcons is superficial and incorrect (Letters, November 27). Peregrines declined largely through ingesting prey that had fed on crops laced with the pesticide DDT. Those that survived regained fertility once the pesticide was banned and their deserted traditional nest sites were subsequently re-occupied as numbers built up.

I have no knowledge of farmland and deer forests being the most suitable habitat for peregrines; rather, cliff sites, overlooking arable land or water, are most favoured. The resurgence of peregrines happened decades ago, only to find the shooters at work, killing them as often as they could manage.

With paltry fines and “blind-eye” police supervision, shootings are still prevalent on grouse moors and elsewhere; as are the taking of chicks for “falconry” and nest destruction. Peregrines are aerial bird-killers, taking prey such as crows and wood pigeons, and do not compete with carrion-eating buzzards, ospreys and red kites.

Bernard Zonfrillo,

28 Brodie Road,

Glasgow.