Micahel Viney responds to queries and observations about nature.
A crow dropped a sizeable stone on my husband's car. Why do crows carry stones?
Sheila Comiskey, Bray, Co Wicklow.
Crows will drop shellfish on to rocks to break them. This one may have taken a stone by mistake.
Does feeding birds make them lazy in finding food for themselves?
Niamh Neumann, Newcastle, Co Wicklow.
Feeding in winter helps to maintain a higher number of birds than would otherwise survive.
Twice in the early part of last year I saw a large flock of ravens congregate in the air in a hilly area in west Cork. These gatherings were brief and relatively subdued. The birds circled and croaked occasionally then dispersed in various directions in pairs and threes after about 10 minutes.
John Crowe, West Cork.
There may have been a food source in the territory of a resident pair of ravens. The residents would warn or drive the others off without any of them landing.
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie. Include postal address.