Observations on Nature
I was amazed to see a house mouse tucking into peanuts on our bird feeder which is 2.5 metres above the ground.
Ray Martin,
Deansgrange, Co Dublin
Field mice often climb to our bird feeders.
We cleaned the chimney and the jackdaws took it as an invitation to build. Over the next few days the following objects were fell down the chimney: wire (six), metal (10), clothes pegs (two), 16" bamboo cane, a steak knife, nails (10), school dividers, plastic tubing and half a dozen other objects.
Declan Ryan,
Shannonbridge, Co Offaly.
Grey and black crows attack our windows at dawn and dusk. They tap loudly on the window panes and eat not only the putty but the frames!
Catherine O'Beirne,
Rathbraughan, Co Sligo.
They were probably reacting to their reflections in the windows when they discovered the oil-based putty. Try hanging cutouts of birds of prey in the windows; available from Birdwatch Ireland's Wings Shop, Rockingham House, Newcastle, Co Wicklow.
• Send observations to Michael Viney, Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie (include a postal address)