Giving Nature a Home in Northern Ireland

Guest blog by Ruby Free, Campaigning Communications Officer, RSPB NI

Rathlin Island by Ruby Free

The clock is ticking on the NI Assembly passing a Climate Bill into law, it is just two short months until the end of the Assembly term and legislation is currently only at the Consideration Stage, it needs to progress quickly!

As the only part of the UK and Ireland without its own climate legislation, we have a critical opportunity…

Here’s a rundown of some of the fantastic free online talks that the RSPB NI local groups have planned for this year.

Winter can be a difficult time of year for birds, natural food sources are harder to find and there's less daylight time to hunt for morsels to eat. Why not share a little festive cheer and reduce your own food waste by feeding the birds?

For hundreds of years, green has been one of the traditional colours of Christmas so this festive season, why not go a little greener?

Guest blog by Dr. Jane Clarke, Nature Protection Policy Officer, RSPB NI

From making space for bugs and birds in our gardens, to nature friendly farming everyone has a role to play to revive our world, especially the NI Executive.

To turn the tide on nature’s decline, all departments must work together, and the new draft Environment Strategy should be an action plan to do this. However, at RSPB NI, we feel it lacks ambition…

Guest blog by Ruby Free, Campaigning Communications Officer, RSPB NI

The farmers making changes to give nature a home

RSPB NI is working in partnership with farmers across Northern Ireland to protect and restore biodiversity. Their farms showcase nature-based solutions in action and how small changes to farming practice can help #ReviveOurWorld.

It’s important we share the incredible work farmers are doing to restore…

As we head into winter, it can be tempting to just cosy-up and hibernate indoors – but we’d be missing out. It’s a great time to spot feathered visitors and some of nature’s most dazzling displays.

To celebrate Aardman’s new festive tale about a young robin trying to fit in, which debuts on Netflix on 24 November - something WoW is coming to Belfast.

On Saturday 6th November 2021, RSPB rallied its staff, volunteers, and supporters to attend the Global Day of Action rallies throughout the UK, and in Belfast, it was no different!

By choosing peat free compost when gardening, you’ll be helping to protect our precious peatlands. This one simple action can make a big difference for nature and climate.

RSPB NI will be taking part in TEDxStormont Countdown, part of TED’s global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis.

Great Big Green Week will take place 18 – 26 September 2021 and is set to be the largest event for climate and nature ever seen in the UK, with thousands of events planned. It aims to call on politicians to raise their ambition and champion ac...

As blackberries ripen in the hedges, the first signs of autumn are appearing and most of our summer visitors are beginning their migration south to sunnier spots. In our gardens, petals are beginning to drop as our once impressive summer blooms star...

If you’ve recently visited Belfast’s Window on Wildlife you might have noticed that the usual oasis of calm water stretching out towards Belfast Lough looks a little different …  The most recent spell of dr...

Guest blog by Jane Clarke, RSPB NI Nature Protection Officer

From fly-tipping, and noise and light pollution, to air and water quality, and protected sites and species; there are a variety of laws in place to protect nature across Northern Ireland. To ensure that individuals, businesses, and the Government are adhering to these laws, we need effective oversight or governance. That’s why RSPB NI is working to ensure that…

Reducing Northern Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions to halt the impact of climate change will require transformation at every level. It’s not going to be easy. But if we want to save species, protect air quality, prevent coastal towns from rising sea levels and preserve our ability to grow food, then it’s a challenge we all must overcome.

Photo credit: Common swift by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)

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What better way to celebrate World Oceans Day than by diving into stories about the wonders of Northern Ireland’s waters, as told by the people who work to protect them.

Photo credit: Common dolphins by Dr Donal Griffin, Northern Ireland Marine Task Force Office 

United Nations World Oceans Day recognises the vital role the oceans play in our everyday lives. Covering over 70% of the Earth’s surface, they supply…

This #VolunteersWeek we want to say a HUGE thank you to all who have volunteered their time and expertise in support of RSPB NI’s vital conservation work. The RSPB could not function without volunteers, in fact 85% of our workforce are volunteers. That’s over 12,000 volunteers across the UK. Our volunteers do everything from pulling reeds in local reserves, to co-ordinating and supporting RSPB projects, campaigning for…

Guest blog by Jane Clarke, RSPB NI Nature Protection Policy Officer  

Picture credit: Seal by Hazel Watson

From wintering birds on the shores of Strangford Lough to the seals at Murlough, and the blanket bogs of Cuilcagh Mountain in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland is home to an amazing range of species and habitats. However, nature is in crisis, even in the areas where it is protected by law. That’s why RSPB is working to…

Guest blog by Rosie Murdock, RSPB NI Communications Officer

https://youtu.be/4gq40_oDeaQ

 Winners of RSPB NI's Artist of the Year in each category

Under 8

Matthew McManus, Age 7

8-11

Jamie McAuley, Age 8

12-17

Chloe Roberts, Age 16

18+

Irene MacWilliam

Highly Commended 

Rory Hughes, Age 7

Sarah Anderson, Age 10

Oonagh Walker, Age 13

Lauren Martin

This competition is now closed.

Competition theme  

Could you paint…

One of Northern Ireland’s most important pieces of legislation was debated in the NI Assembly on Monday 10 May – our first Climate Change Bill. After seven hours, MLAs cast their vote… and the result was a win for nature (and all of us) with the Assembly voting in favour of progressing the Bill to the next stage!

Puffin on Rathlin Island by Hazel Watson (rspb-images.com)

None of this would have been…

This summer marks five years since we undertook our groundbreaking and collaborative swift tracking study with the BTO.

The two-year study involved placing long-term deployment tags (essentially miniature 1g backpacks!) on the swifts in Northern Ireland and gave us a scintillating snapshot into the autumn-winter movements of three birds from Belfast, Antrim and Portadown on their epic migration to sub-Saharan Africa.

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World Curlew Day guest blog by Seán Woods and Neal Warnock, Senior Conservation Officers for RSPB NI 

 

Today is World Curlew Day, and to mark it Seán Woods and Neal Warnock from our operations team, are sharing some information about RSPB’s latest work to save the species in Northern Ireland. 
 
The once familiar call of the curlew is a sound sadly fading into memories and stories. Since the mid-1980s the breeding…

Guest blog by Rosie Murdock, RSPB NI Communications Officer

Do you feel that the scale of the climate emergency is overwhelming? Are you worried that it’s too late to turn it around? Well, we have good news for you; there are solutions, and right now work is being undertaken to create a sustainable future for everyone.

One of the most important solutions is to ensure that we have our own climate laws in Northern…

RSPB NI is asking members of the public to report any sightings of majestic red kites as we enter the 2021 breeding season.

If you are out walking in and around Castlewellan, Katesbridge, Moneyslane, Ballyward in County Down or spending time in the Mournes as stay local restrictions ease, let us know if you spot any red kites. County Down remains the hot-spot for these striking birds of prey, but they have been seen all…