In a single generation the populations of lapwing, curlew, snipe and redshank in Northern Ireland have declined so drastically that they are now in danger of being lost from our countryside forever.

Redshank (Andy Hay, rspb-imges.com)

 

A new study into how breeding waders are faring here has just been released and the facts and figures confirm what we already knew - urgent conservation action is needed if we’re to…

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to see a red kite soaring high in the sky, you’ll know how magnificent and awe-inspiring these birds of prey are.

Red kites were persecuted to extinction here more than 200 years ago but in 2008 we partnered with the Welsh Kite Trust and the Golden Eagle Trust to reintroduce the species to Northern Ireland.

There are currently around 14 breeding pairs in NI but it’s estimated…

Every quarter, we publish retrospective details of what's been happening on our reserves. Here's what went on from January to March this year...

Lough Neagh

Working in partnership

The Lough Neagh Area manager visited Ham Wall and the Somerset Levels with partners from the Lough Neagh Partnership to see examples of wetland creation and restoration on old peat works in the area.  The team also took part in the…

 

Blog by James Walker, Manx BirdLife Media and Communications volunteer

 

A hen harrier chick on the Isle of Man is to be fitted with a satellite tag to provide vital information about this threatened species.

Manx Birdlife has co-ordinated the tagging as part of the LIFE+ Hen Harrier project and the £5,000 sponsorship needed came from a local charity, the Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside (SPMC…

Having grown up in Fermanagh, I’ve been lucky enough to experience some of the county’s most special places – from the ancient stone carvings on White Island to the magical subterranean Marble Arch Caves.

But until I came to work at RSPB NI, I’d never even heard of Aghatirourke!

Aghatirourke, on Cuilcagh Mountain, is part of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark and is an area of extensive upland…

After three years of concerted effort, swifts have arrived at RSPB NI headquarters!

In 2012, swift nest boxes and a calling system were installed at our head office in Belvoir Forest, Belfast, in an attempt to provide homes for these threatened birds. In June, screaming parties of swifts were spotted investigating the existing boxes at Belvoir.

We then decided to add another couple of boxes to the wall where the calling…

This is the last day of our celebration of our amazing volunteers as part of National Volunteering Week (check out our Facebook page to find out more about some of the people we've been featuring all week). We're finishing by handing over to...

Some good news!

 

The West Light Seabird Centre on Rathlin Island, home to Northern Ireland’s largest seabird colony, is reopening this coming bank holiday weekend (Saturday 23 May)!

 This little guy is very excited

 

The bad news...

Construction has been delayed, so we are unable to allow visitors access to the lighthouse itself just yet, but you can still access the viewing platform in order to enjoy the…

With the breeding season in full swing, a team of dedicated volunteer surveyors have been out and about in east County Down as part of RSPB NI’s Farming Together with Nature project.

The project, now in its third year, focuses specifically on this area of Northern Ireland as it’s been identified as a ‘hotspot’ for six threatened species – yellowhammers, linnets, reed buntings, tree sparrows, skylarks and lapwings…

The Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime in Northern Ireland, which RSPB NI is part of, has issued a reminder about the importance of protecting bats as they wake from their long winter hibernation. 

The common pipistrelle is the most common bat in Northern Ireland, and is the smallest of the eight bat species found here. They vary between 35 and 45mm in length and three to six grams in weight – less than a 10p…

The RSPB is passionate about getting more children connected to nature.

Evidence shows that the proportion of children playing out in natural spaces has dropped by as much as 75 per cent over the last 30 to 40 years.

This is despite the proven positive effects that contact with the natural world has on children’s physical and mental health, personal and social development, and even academic achievements.

If the…

You may have caught the most recent episode of Countryfile, which featured Matt Baker spending some time with our residential volunteers at Portmore Lough (if you haven't, you can catch up here until mid-April).

The residential volunteering scheme is the result of refurbishment of the home of former warden Eddie Franklin, who sadly passed away in 2012. Eddie was the founding warden of Portmore Lough and it was his…

When you think of nature, you might automatically think of the countryside – green fields, rivers and woodland teeming with life.

But our towns and cities are also home to huge numbers of birds and other wildlife, from summer visitors like swifts and house martins to more familiar species like hedgehogs and robins.

However as urban centres become more developed and the demand for housing and infrastructure increases…

The Northern Ireland Marine Task Force (NIMTF), which RSPB NI is part of, has welcomed the Department of Environment’s plans for new marine protection around our shores to safeguard our smallest marine mammal, the harbour porpoise, and a host of vulnerable sea birds and important marine habitats.

“This is a significant step forward for Northern Ireland’s seas,” says Kenny Bodles from the Marine Task Force. “The…

Every quarter, we'll use this blog to update you on all the goings-on across our reserves here in Northern Ireland from the previous three months. Here's what happened from October - December...

Lough Neagh Area

Portmore

 

It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it

In the next few weeks we plan to restore chick rearing habitat by clearing existing foot-drains. Tenders are out at the moment for contractors…

Belfast's Window on Wildlife (WOW) is now open to visitors after closing for an extensive refurbishment programme.

We've been working hard to put the finishing touches on the reserve over the last few weeks, in time to welcome our first visitors on Wednesday, 18 February.

So what's new?

Well, we've made the visitor centre bigger, allowing for even better views of the harbour lagoon. The centre now also…

We’re thrilled to tell you that Belfast’s Window on Wildlife will be reopening on Wednesday, 18 February!

We’re just putting the finishing touches on the building, including installing all our new interpretative signage, ready to open the doors next month. The team at Belfast WOW (Chris, Hilda and Lisa pictured below) can't wait to welcome you all there.

As always, we're very grateful for your…

If you’ve never visited the RSPB’s nature reserve right in the heart of bustling Belfast Harbour then prepared to be WOWed!

After an extensive programme of works, the newly refurbished Window on Wildlife (WOW) reopens very soon and visitors will be able to enjoy improved views of Belfast Lough and the birds and wildlife which call the reserve home.

As a charity, we're reliant on donations from members…

Request for Quotation with fixed budget of £6500 of work to be completed by 31/3/2015

 

Introduction

 

Peatlands cover 13% of the land area of Northern Ireland but store over 40% of our soil carbon stock.  80% of peatlands in Northern Ireland are degraded to some extent which has implications for wildlife and water quality. Damaged peatlands will be less resilient to the pressures of a changing climate, which will…

Blog by RSPB NI Policy Advocacy Officer Colum Delaney.

RSPB NI believes that nature in Northern Ireland is under threat from deep and broad budget cuts. You can join us in standing up to save nature by taking a couple of minutes to feed into the public consultation to protect our environment.

The latest budget allocations demonstrate that the natural environment is not seen as a government priority. Disproportionate…

Seabirds face many different threats, both man made and natural. Birds may be storm-wrecked by adverse weather conditions that exhaust them and sometimes very large numbers can be affected. Oil and other pollution may kill or injure birds. Seabirds may also be accidentally caught and killed in fishing gear in some circumstances. In all cases, live and dead seabirds may be found ashore. Last year, for example, winter storms…

Flocks of starlings, known as murmurations, are one of winter’s most impressive shows and be seen across the province;  They can involve hundreds of thousands of starlings gathering noisily together at dusk and sweeping across the sky in a huge dark cloud of synchronised flight. 

Watching thousands of starlings move across the sky as one is such an unforgettable and truly inspiring experience.  It starts with just…

After letting us in on the secret world of odonates not so long ago, trainee ecologist Anne Guichard is back with exciting news from Portmore Lough...

Studying bryophytes is hard work and usually involves collecting low-level specimens in the field and requires a lot of time to identify them in the office, especially for a beginner! I collected some specimens on Monday 27^th October at Portmore Lough as part of a module…

I’m still waiting patiently to see my first redwing of the year – that unmistakable flash of colour in flight, as well as a creamy stripe above the eye, makes this charming visitor to our shores easily recognisable.

Redwings journey here in significant numbers from both Iceland and north-east Europe. They are found anywhere there is a supply of food and have a particular liking for berry bushes such as hawthorn…

This week is World Space Week, an international celebration of science and technology.

The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week would begin on 4 October each to year to commemorate the launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, on this day in 1957.

You might wonder why someone from the RSPB is writing about World Space Week. Well it’s because this year the theme is satellite…