As the leaves continue to change and the weather takes a turn for the worse, hedgehogs are getting ready to hibernate. But before they bed down for winter, the spiky mammals are busy gaining weight to sustain them during their six month snooze.

They live on a diet of beetles, earthworms and other invertebrates but will happily munch on our leftovers, eating anything from cake to cooked vegetables. You can also put out…

Earlier this week we were delighted by Environment Minister Mark H Durkan's announcement that he will not progress further with the controversial Planning Bill.

The Bill, originally intended to smooth the way for the transfer of planning powers to councils, was becoming a piece of legislation which put economic considerations at the forefront of planning decisions, rather than sustainable development. To make matters…

Irish hares are no longer as common a sight in Northern Ireland as they were even a generation ago. However, at the RSPB’s Portmore Lough nature reserve outside Aghalee, County Antrim, this special species is thriving.

Irish hares differ genetically from mountain hares, resulting in their unique russet brown coats and shorter black-tipped ears. The Irish hare can also have a white tail – in fact during the very…

If someone asked you what delicious foodstuff is made in Tandragee, County Armagh the answer might seem obvious. I mean Mr Tayto even has his own castle!

But just a couple of miles away another Northern Irish classic is being lovingly produced. Local farmer Tim McClelland grows 79 acres of Conservation Grade Oats which are transported just two miles to the local ‘Speedicook’ factory to make top quality porridge with minimal…

Over the last few weeks, the news about nature has been pretty grim. Between the State of Nature report which showed that 60% of species in the UK is declining and the news that the new Planning Bill that is progressing through Stormont may offer less protection for nature, you’d be forgiven for feeling a bit hopeless that we can do anything to stop nature disappearing altogether. Some of our most familiar and loved species…

Recently, we had a pretty interesting visitor to Rathlin Island whose bird call impressions were nothing short of amazing! Check it out over on the Rathlin Island blog.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/rathlinisland/b/weblog/archive/2013/05/26/amazing-bird-impressions.aspx

Have you checked out the Rathlin Island blog yet? Click the link to see a new blog from our team at the Seabird Centre on Rathlin Island.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/rathlinisland/b/weblog/default.aspx

So, not so long ago, I wrote a blog here about taking part in an abseil down the Europa hotel to raise funds for the RSPB. Well, I’m at it again; this time, taking part in a relay team for the Belfast Marathon for the same reason.

The thing is, this decision doesn’t seem as strange as the one I made to fling myself off a building. In fact, this decision seems sensible. You see, I’m like a lot of people who live…

Our policy advocacy officer, Colum Delaney, has written a guest post over on the "Safeguard our sealife" blog. In it, you'll find out about the progress (or lack) of the Marine Bill through the Northern Ireland Executive, and what you can do to hurry our politicians along.

Click the link and check it out!

Our guest blogger this week is one of our fantastic volunteers and leader of Antrim Local Group Brenda Campbell.  She keeps us up to speed on the Stepping up for Corncrake Project with Part 2- Bramble clearing on Rathlin island!

Whether you like it or not, the only way to get to an island is by crossing water!

On Friday 1^st February, St Brigid’s Day, as part of an RSPB work party, we boarded The Canna Ferry at Ballycastle…

Stingy, tall, vibrant green nettles are fairly underrated when it comes to public opinion.  But when it comes to the amount of biodiversity they support and the wildlife that rely on them, they cannot be overlooked.

Nettles are butterfly food for at least two common species - Red Admiral and Painted Lady; moths, ladybirds, aphids and caterpillars love them too. This in turn provides a great buffet for small birds!  But…

In this blog, Laura Thomson tells us all about our fundraising efforts in 2012 and how much you have helped us to keep our great conservation work going.

2012 has been a massive year for community fundraising at RSPB Northern Ireland.  It’s the first year we’ve tried fundraising in this way and we’ve come a long way already, largely thanks to our fantastic team of fundraising volunteers who make the magic happen!…

I’m going to level with you – I am an absolute coward. I hate rollercoasters, cycling on the roads, and daddy long-legs. But I’ve always believed that while fear isn’t something to celebrate, it’s also not something that should ever stop you from doing things. Afraid of spiders? Go pick one up! Afraid of dogs? Take one for a walk! Afraid of heights? Throw yourself off a 130 foot high building!…

Another amazing insight into the life of these incredible Red Kites from Adam

"Just over a year ago, in September 2011, I got a phone call from a birdwatcher who had seen a red kite on a large estate in County Antrim.  He already had permission to birdwatch on the estate, but even better news was that the gamekeeper was happy to meet up and show me where the bird had been seen.

On meeting up with the birder and…

Time for another dose of red kite from Adam! This time, he's telling us all about how well the birds have been breeding since he came on board as Red Kite Officer last year...

"As winter turned to spring I was full of excitement, not to mention slight trepidation, as I approached my first breeding season as NI Red Kite Officer.  Any nerves I had were not helped by reports from Wales in mid-January that birds were…

Welcome to the first of our blog updates on the Red Kite Reintroduction Project. It will follow the project’s highs and lows, and track the many excitements and dramas that we face bringing back these beautiful birds from extinction here in Northern Ireland.

Adam McClure will be your guide for the next few months as we look at what this project is and why it means so much to us here in RSPB.

"I have worked on…

Welcome to our new blog! We’ll be using this space to keep you up to date with all the latest happenings from RSPB Northern Ireland. We’ll be starting off by handing over to Adam McClure – our Red Kite Officer - to tell us all about the Red Kite Reintroduction Project. Over the next few months, Adam will tell us all about what’s happening with the project and will hopefully keep us informed of any new additions to the…