Eye On Nature

The books often say that only hummingbirds can fly backwards (as opposed to hovering), but I saw a blue tit doing just this. The "reversal" was more sustained than I've ever seen near a feeder, lasting at least five seconds and maybe 10 and covering a distance of a metre or two.

Duncan Martin, Annacotty, Co Limerick

Hovering and flying backwards are closely related. When birds hover, their wings beat backward and forward parallel to the ground regardless of the angle of the body. The hummingbird flies backward by adjusting the angle of the primary feathers in the wing. Watching tits at the nut-feeder hovering in and out, I am not surprised that they have learned to fly backwards.

The cat brought cockchafers into the house around midnight recently. They seem to appear only at intervals of many years. Do they not appear at all in some years?

C≤il∅n MacLochlainn, Dublin 18

There are cockchafer years, which can depend on the breeding success three or four years earlier. The larvae remain under ground for that time, devouring plant roots.

Eye on Nature is 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. Please do not send attachments.