One day in early June I was attacked by a flock of jackdaws in my own garden. There were about 20 birds flying around, very agitated, swooping and screeching aggressively, and one swooped down repeatedly on me, cawing fiercely, and once actually hit me a glancing blow on the top of the head. The dive-bomber always made his run from my rear, so that I did not see him coming. The colony of jackdaws who live in our chimneys did not seem to be involved: the aggressors were recent arrivals, nesting in high, dense sycamores that border the garden.
James Murray, Knocknacarra, Galway.
Jackdaws are moved by a very strong urge to mob a bird, mammal or even a man if they see a "black crow" being held. Short of mistaking something you were carrying (binoculars?) for one of their own number, their behaviour is puzzling.
There was no sign of the swallows that usually nest in our garage until yesterday morning, June 14th, when a pair appeared, hovering, at the top of the sittingroom window. One struck against the glass, not accidentally, as sometimes happens, but as if it hoped to be able to settle there for a moment. To me, it was almost: "Come on, open up!" I immediately went out and opened the garage door and they were going in and out in a minute. Lieut-Col. R.K.Page, Grange Con, Co Wicklow.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. e-mail: viney@anu.ie.