Sir, – In response to the query about cuckoos from Gerry Lyons (Letters, February 24th), could I remind him of the old rhyme: The cuckoo comes in April/He sings his song in May/At the end of June/He'll change his tune/In July he flies away. – Yours, etc,
AVRIL HEDDERMAN,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
Sir,– I fear Gerry Lyons has been waiting in vain, as cuckoos do not typically put in an appearance until late March or April. He may, however, be encouraged to hear that the British Trust for Ornithology’s Cuckoo Tracking Project reports AJ, a satellite-tracked cuckoo, and others, are currently heading north after a stop-off in the northern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Ellis is in southeastern Guinea. Give them time; they’re on their way. – Yours, etc,
PAT MULLEN,
Kilkerley,
Co Louth.