Michael Viney responds to queries and observations on nature
On a quiet road early in February we saw four dead frogs in one section and two more further on. It looked like they were run over by cars.
Mary Moran, Killarney, Co Kerry
It is the breeding season for frogs and they are making their way to ponds to spawn. Many crossing roads are killed by cars.
A female sparrowhawk landed on our bird table scattering the small tribe of sparrows we feed. It spent 10 minutes trying to flush the sparrows out from their cover. We were surprised by its sudden appearance in the city.
John Brennan, North Strand, Dublin 3
We are renovating an old cottage on Gola Island and planted shrubs and small trees to give shelter to the birds. But a herd of more than 20 goats are loose and nothing has survived their chewing. What plants are goat-proof?
Margret Breslin, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
I'm told you could try grey-foliage plants such as Santolina chamaecyparissus, Helichrysum serotinum, Senecio greyi, Olearia macrodonta and the spiny Hippophae rhamnoides (sea-buckthorn).