Birdwatch Ireland's Cape Clear Bird Observatory celebrates its 60th birthday this year, and to mark the occasion the island is hosting a nearly two-week-long wildlife festival from Monday 02 September to Saturday 14 September.Well known British "celebrity birder" David Lindo, The Urban Birder, swaps his familiar cityscapes for the wide-open vistas of Ireland's most … [Read more...] about David Lindo (AKA The Urban Birder) to open Cape Clear Wildlife Festival
Birdwatch Ireland
Minister halts plans to allow hedge-cutting in August
Minister for Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD has announced that she will not exercise her discretionary powers under the new Heritage Act to allow hedge-cutting to proceed in August this year.“Hedgerows are a very important wildlife habitat, providing food, shelter, corridors of movement, nest and hibernation sites for many of our native flora and … [Read more...] about Minister halts plans to allow hedge-cutting in August
Birdwatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey kicks off Monday
This Monday, 30 November 2015, sees the start of Birdwatch Ireland's most popular survey: the annual winter Garden Bird Survey.Every year Ireland's largest conservation NGO asks households across the country to record the birds visiting their gardens between the start of December and the end of February. How the Garden Bird Survey works Between December and February each … [Read more...] about Birdwatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey kicks off Monday
Hen Harrier blog-star “Heather” shot dead in Co. Kerry
A young hen harrier has been found shot dead near Waterville in Co. Kerry.The satellite tagged bird-of-prey, a young female dubbed "Heather" by local schoolchildren, was part of a joint project by regional development organisation IRD Duhallow and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Heather became an online star via the Hen Harrier Ireland Blog, with thousands … [Read more...] about Hen Harrier blog-star “Heather” shot dead in Co. Kerry
Farming organisations and conservationists on collision course over hedge-cutting
A review by The Dapartment of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht of legislation under the Wildlife Act that governs the period when hedgerows can be cut has put landowners and environmental groups on a collision course.As it currently stands the legislation prohibits hedge cutting (with certain exceptions) between the 01 March and the 31 August to protect nesting birds and … [Read more...] about Farming organisations and conservationists on collision course over hedge-cutting
Corncrake numbers rise for second consecutive year
Conservation efforts to save the corncrake from extinction in Ireland appear to be paying dividends. Authorities reported a significant increase in the number of calling male birds during their 2014 corncrake population census, up to 230 from 185 birds recorded last year.The largest concentration of corncrakes was in Donegal, where 156 calling males were recorded, 108 of … [Read more...] about Corncrake numbers rise for second consecutive year
A journey to Antarctica: ten weeks in the freezer
The West Cork and Cork Branches of BirdWatch Ireland are hosting an illustrated talk by Cork based author and naturalist Jim Wilson on Friday 7th February 2014. The event takes place at the Cork International Airport Hotel, with doors opening at 7pm, and the talk commencing at 8pm sharp. This is the second time the two regional branches of Birdwatch Ireland have come together … [Read more...] about A journey to Antarctica: ten weeks in the freezer
The Birdwatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey: how you can help monitor Ireland’s garden birds
This post is part of the Crossley ID Guide Britain & Ireland Blog Tour -- yesterday the tour was over at Mark Avery's blog here -- tomorrow it moves on to BirdWords... the official site of Dominic Couzens... who's one of the book's authors. You'll find the full tour schedule here.NB. I'll be posting a full review of the guide to the book review section of the site in … [Read more...] about The Birdwatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey: how you can help monitor Ireland’s garden birds
Kilcoole Little Tern Conservation Project: a video documentary
Andrew Power and Peter Cutler produced this fabulous documentary offering insight into the Little Tern breeding colony at Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow, and the ongoing efforts to protect them.Little terns are Ireland's smallest tern species, and one of our rarest breeding seabirds. The colony in Kilkoole is Ireland's largest. For more information check out the excellent Kilcoole … [Read more...] about Kilcoole Little Tern Conservation Project: a video documentary
The return of Great Spotted Woodpeckers
Over the last five years woodland on Ireland’s east coast has started to reverberate with the drumming of a very welcome blow-in. This feature documenting that recolonisation was first published in the October 2013 edition of Bird Watching magazine in the UK.Ireland is home to some truly fantastic wildlife and offers some outstanding birding opportunities. But for all … [Read more...] about The return of Great Spotted Woodpeckers
Book Review: The Birds of Ireland, A Field Guide
For many people a desire to identify the birds they see visiting their garden, or when they're out and about, is the first step to an enduring fascination with nature and wildlife. It was birds that infected me with the nature bug way back when, and I still remember my first bird field guide... a small hardback copy of "The Observer's Book of Birds" that I got as a birthday … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Birds of Ireland, A Field Guide
Birdwatch Ireland responds to Cllr.’s “Open Season on Hen Harrier” remarks
Ireland's largest conservation charity, Birdwatch Ireland, has responded strongly to recent comments by Limerick Co. Councillor John Sheahan calling for an "Open Season" on the protected hen harrier -- one of most threatened birds."Cllr. Sheahan's ill-informed and short-sighted statement shows how far we have to travel as a state in prioritising our natural heritage over … [Read more...] about Birdwatch Ireland responds to Cllr.’s “Open Season on Hen Harrier” remarks
Bird Atlas 2007-2011 — save 33% before 31 July
If you're a birder in Britain or Ireland then chances are you already know about the upcoming publication of "Bird Atlas 2007-2011".The culmination of one of the most ambitious citizen science projects ever undertaken, Bird Atlas brings together data on bird populations collected by tens of thousands of dedicated volunteers across the British Isles. It has been described … [Read more...] about Bird Atlas 2007-2011 — save 33% before 31 July
BirdTrack… a smart new way to record the birds you see
Brian Caffrey, co-ordinator of BirdTrack for Irish partner organisation, Birdwatch Ireland, introduces this new tool for recording and managing your personal bird records, and contributing to a body of data that helps inform bird conservation on a local, regional, national and international level.BirdTrack (www.birdtrack.net) is an exciting project that looks at … [Read more...] about BirdTrack… a smart new way to record the birds you see
Bird Identification Expert speaking in Cork
The Art of Identification A forty-year perspective on birding and Field Guides With Killian Mullarney Friday 01 February 2013, Cork International Airport Hotel Doors open 7pm, talk commences at 8pmJoin Killian Mullarney, renowned bird artist and and international authority on bird identification in Cork on 01 February for this not-to-be-missed talk on a fascinating … [Read more...] about Bird Identification Expert speaking in Cork
Hen harrier shooting prompts call for Garda investigation
Birdwatch Ireland (BWI) has called on An Garda Siochána to launch an immediate investigation following the recent shooting of a hen harrier at a winter roost site in County Kerry.Hen Harriers are a species of high conservation concern in Ireland and are listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. They are protected under Irish and European law, and the loss of even one … [Read more...] about Hen harrier shooting prompts call for Garda investigation
Birdwatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey starts Monday 03 December
Birdwatch Ireland's most popular "Citizen Science" project... the annual Garden Bird Survey... starts next Monday, 03 December.It's a survey that anyone can take part in and its really easy to get involved here's how Birdwatch Ireland explain it: The way the survey works is very straightforward... Between December and February each year, we ask members of the public to … [Read more...] about Birdwatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey starts Monday 03 December
Ninth Wicklow red kite poisoning confirmed
A ninth red kite from the Irish project to reintroduce this magnificent bird of prey has been killed by poisoning .Tests on the bird, which was found dead near Brittas Bay at the end of last year, have confirmed the cause of death as illegal poisoning. It was a breeding female that had previously nested on a farm near Redcross, Co. Wicklow. Scavenging makes red kites … [Read more...] about Ninth Wicklow red kite poisoning confirmed
Wild Christmas gift ideas that help wildlife!
Do you have a wildlife nut in your family? Are you struggling for inspiration for a suitable Christmas gift for someone in your life who is literally “for the birds”? Well, fear not – we’ve got a suggestion.Why not get them a gift that will not only delight them, but will also help contribute to the conservation of the wildlife they love? Lots of wildlife related charities … [Read more...] about Wild Christmas gift ideas that help wildlife!
Farmland bird populations at lowest ever level
Figures released by the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme reveal that Europe’s farmland birds are in dire straits. Researchers compiled population figures for 145 common and widespread bird species spanning 25 European countries between 1980 and 2009. Of the 36 species of common farmland birds included in the study, 20 were considered to be in decline, and overall … [Read more...] about Farmland bird populations at lowest ever level
Shocking “live bait” poisoning of buzzards in Rosscrea
The appalling practice of poisoning birds of prey in rural Ireland continues, and took an even more sinister twist recently according to last week’s Birdwatch Ireland eWings newsletter. Ireland’s largest conservation NGO revealed that volunteers monitoring buzzards near the Offaly / Tipparary border found live pigeons laced with poison and staked out specifically to target … [Read more...] about Shocking “live bait” poisoning of buzzards in Rosscrea
Roseate Tern offered lifeline on Ireland’s East Coast
The population of the roseate tern (Sterna dougallii), which is classed as one of Europe’s rarest breeding seabirds, is getting a much needed boost thanks to a Birdwatch Ireland and National Parks and Wildlife Service conservation initiative. According to a report in today’s Irish Times Ireland now boasts 90 per cent of Europe’s core breeding population of these scarce birds, … [Read more...] about Roseate Tern offered lifeline on Ireland’s East Coast
European project will track seabird movements
A European funded seabird project called FAME (Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment) is set to track seabird movements around the coastlines of Europe, including Ireland, the UK, France, Spain and Portugal."We know more about the journeys of albatrosses in the Southern Ocean than we do about some of the seabirds around our own shores," said Dr Ellie Owen, a seabird … [Read more...] about European project will track seabird movements
Special Offer Wildlife Books from Birdwatch Ireland
Hot news on the Birdwatch Ireland page on Facebook this afternoon… get your hands on some great value nature and wildlife books from the Birdwatch Ireland Online Store with fantastic reductions on a range of great titles.But hurry… according to the guys at BWI stocks at this price are limited, so head on over now and bag yourself a natural bargain! … [Read more...] about Special Offer Wildlife Books from Birdwatch Ireland
West Cork Dawn Chorus 2011
A blue-grey blush along the eastern horizon was the only hint of approaching daylight as I joined a group of game-looking individuals in the darkness. It was 4:30am, and some 35 of us had gathered at the north west corner of Ireland’s first marine nature reserve to witness one of the wonders of the natural world. We were here for the dawn chorus. Except that nobody had told … [Read more...] about West Cork Dawn Chorus 2011
