Following 20 years of planning, hard work and many frustrations, I have established a copse of trees on the bare edge of the Atlantic. It shelters many different species of birds which I encourage and enjoy. But, like a plague of locusts, starlings invade bringing deafening and incessant noise and droppings which splatter the car and house. What can be done to discourage them or drive them away?
- Joe McGowan, Cliffoney, Co Sligo
Large, sometimes enormous, flocks of starlings cause severe problems in the US and Europe, in loss of crops - particularly cherries and cereals. Much research has been carried out to find ways of reducing their numbers and discouraging them. Shooting and poisoning have been tried but the numbers that must be killed to make any impression are so large as to make this impracticable. One solution that has had some success in driving them away is the recording of a starling in distress.
In mid May I watched a pair of choughs collecting materials for a nest on the cliffs of Kerry Head. I gather they are an endangered species in the North. What is their status down here? - Alan O'Dwyer, Ballyheigue, Co Kerry
Choughs are virtually extinct on the north Ulster coast, but they are holding their own in the South. The coast of west Kerry is their greatest stronghold.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. E-mail: viney@anu.ie. Observations sent by e-mail should be accompanied by postal address as location is sometimes important to identification or behaviour.