I set about constructing a nestbox for the tits or robins at my feeding station and found that I couldn't remember the dimensions for the entrance. Jim Grogan, Carrow-Lacken, Co Mayo
The nesthole measurement that most people want to know is the one that excludes starlings and that is 29 mm or 1 /8 inches. This will be too late for most birds now, but the box will be nicely weathered for next spring. Autumn is the best time to make a nestbox because it gives the birds time to get used to it. For many years we have been feeding our garden birds. We have delighted in the sight of blue tits, coal tits, great tits, chaffinches, bullfinches, siskins, sparrows, robins, etc, filling our apple tree with almost as many birds in winter as it had leaves in summer. Alas, no more. A few years ago a blackcap joined the throng, at first an interesting, rare visitor. Then this tiny bully began to throw his miniscule weight about. He clearly thinks the food is his alone, Now we have a blackcap in our tree and an occasional furtive, flying raid by a nervous sparrow. I am reluctant to resort to catapult or airgun, is there a selective deterrent for blackcaps? Where are the cats now that we need them? We want our birds back.
Donal O'Halloran,
Bishopstown, Cork
Put up a second nut bag or bird table as far away from the first one possible, then the blackcap cannot defend them both.
We have a beech hedge, about 8 feet high and 10 feet away from our picture window, with two peanut dispensers hanging in the branches. It is much frequented by greenfinches, all the tits and other small birds including a dunnock, a pair of blackcaps and, once, three siskins. Today, to my surprise a kestrel swooped down and alighted in the hedge. He stayed for five minutes or more, looking all around before flying off. I hope he will leave my birds alone. Brigid Ganly, Glenageary, Co Dublin Kestrels have turned quite urban, living off rodents and undoubtedly small birds, but hedges provide good protection for the garden birds.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. email: viney@anu.ie