All winter our robin dominated the bird table, bullying all, especially the other robins. He disappeared for a few days and returned with his mate for the season. He is now all graciousness, plying her with titbits and ignoring the others.
Joe Sheridan, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan
How high do birds ascend?
Joe Fagan, Castleknock, Dublin
Whooper swans were seen by a pilot at 27,000 feet – 8,300m – over the Atlantic between Iceland and Europe. And geese also use the jet stream at that height. Most birds fly lower : waterfowl between 200ft and 4,000ft (60m and 1,200m) and songbirds between 2,000ft and 4,000ft (600m and 1,200m).
We’ve had a walking group for 20 years; we have not noticed many grasshoppers or crickets. Are they in decline?
Brian Carroll, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin
After overwintering in the ground, grasshopper eggs hatch in May and go through several moults before reaching adult form in June, when they can be heard “singing”. They don’t survive the winter. There have not been reports of a decline.
We’ve had two unused nesting boxes in our garden for a couple of years, but this spring blue tits have been busy checking them out. For the past few weeks both birds have been pecking loudly at the round opening of one box, and it is now a square opening. Home improvement in Foxrock?
Suzanne Cronin, Foxrock, Dublin
On April 19th I had my first sighting of a peacock butterfly this year, at Rogerstown Estuary, in Co Dublin. I’m sending you a photograph of it.
Liam Kane, Blanchardstown, Dublin
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978 , or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address