Science

Fallow deer fawns respond very differently to repeated encounters with people depending on their stress hormone levels early in life, new research from Queen’s University Belfast has found.

Early-life stress hormone levels linked to how young deer respond to people

The National Methane Summit took place in Portlaoise, County Laois on Monday, 12 October. Pictured (L-R): David Kenny, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Mary McCarthy, University College Cork, Karl Walsh, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Philip Carroll, Meat Industry Ireland, Elizabeth Walsh, VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre and Donagh Berry, VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre and Teagasc.

National Methane Summit showcases a decade of Irish research in this area

Armagh Observatory

Third warmest September on record but the month was wetter than average

Tufted Duck

Reservoirs remain an important wintering ground for millions of waterbirds

Corncrake chick - Camera Trap

First images of corncrake chicks mark Rathlin conservation milestone

The Irish Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, has confirmed that an operation led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has successfully located an Asian hornet nest near Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.

Irish Minister confirms successful location of an Asian hornet nest in Co Cork

Armagh Observatory

August 2026 warmer, duller and slightly wetter than average recorded at Armagh

The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is set to host the Institute of Biomedical Science’s Learning Lab on 26th and 27th September 2026.

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium to host Learning Lab

Carr Island. Credit: Michael Rafferty

RSPB NI expands Lough Erne Reserve with Carr Island acquisition

Farming Life livestock markets

Agri Aware welcomes the Organic Trust as its latest new patron

Pictured: (L–R): Front row: Dr Karen Daly, Teagasc; Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director; Koen Verbruggen, GSI Director; and Ray Scanlon, GSI. Back row: Dr Lillian O’Sullivan, Teagasc; Dr Felipe Bachion de Santana, Teagasc; Professor Pat Dillon, Teagasc; Victoria Lowe, GSI; Dr Raymond Kelly, Teagasc; and Dr Réamonn Fealy, Teagasc.

Teagasc and GSI strengthen successful scientific partnership

RSPB NI have announced that four male Corncrakes have been heard calling on Rathlin Island this year, offering hope for one of Northern Ireland’s rarest breeding birds following concentrated conservation efforts.

RSPB NI confirms four calling Corncrakes have returned to Rathlin Island

RSPB NI have announced that four male Corncrakes have been heard calling on Rathlin Island this year, offering hope for one of Northern Ireland’s rarest breedin...

Darryl Armitage

Darryl Armitage

Flying Gannets, Grassholm. Credit: Lisa Morgan

Northern Gannet populations facing a long road to recover study finds

New polling commissioned by RSPB NI shows strong public backing for greater investment in nature-friendly farming, with 68% supporting increased public investment to help farmers produce food sustainably while addressing the nature and climate crisis.

Public back increased investment for nature-friendly farming

Supplementation at the right time: Supporting livestock performance

By The Newsroom

Studies show the impact from pheasants when insects emerge in spring and summer is insignificant. Picture credit: Pete Thompson

New GWCT report finds no evidence of pheasants affecting insect abundance

Dartford Warbler

Heathland birds continue to bounce back show results of 2025 survey

Gary Campbell - M106 - Out of this World

Ballymoney man shortlisted for Reach for the Stars Astrophotography Competition

Bass Rock Gannets (c) James Glossop for Scottish Seabird Centre

Scotland’s iconic seabird sanctuaries saved for future generations to come

The results of the 2026 Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC) show that farms providing supplementary feeding are supporting higher numbers of many farmland bird species whose breeding populations are declining nationally.

Big Farmland Bird Count – 2026 results announced
The results of the 2026 Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC) show that farms providing supplementary feeding are supporting higher numbers of many farmland bird species whose breeding populations are declining nationally.
Darryl Armitage

An ash sawfly

New AFBI research project to curb invasive pest attacking native ash trees

Regius Professor Hannah Cloke

UK extreme heat: expert explains May temperature swing

Almost 30,000 native trees of Irish provenance, including oak, alder and rowan, have been planted at Lenamore Wood near Gortin, Omagh, to help restore one of Northern Ireland’s rarest habitats – temperate rainforest. The ambitious project is led by Ulster Wildlife in partnership with Aviva.

Ambitious restoration of rare temperate rainforest underway in Omagh

When moorland is burned, toxic air pollutants are released which can travel far from their source into nearby towns and cities.

Moorland burning for upland management exposing unsafe air pollution levels

Sycamore Gap Sapling at How Hill. Picture: Broads Authority

Sycamore Gap Tree of Hope planted in the Broads National Park

Conservation charity, the National Trust, has taken the rare step of asking people across Northern Ireland to contact their MLA over the current state of nature.

People in Northern Ireland to ask their MLA to step in over nature crisis

Snipe being tagged. c.GWCT, Bleddyn Thomas

Monitored Snipe show indications that they are on the move

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos, perched in tree

A singing success for Nightingales this Dawn Chorus Day

Willow Warbler

BTO reporting a much diminished Dawn Chorus as UK as songbirds crash

The Ballinderry River

Take part in The Big River Watch as concern grows around river health

Curlew

Irish Ministers welcome conservation breakthrough on World Curlew Day
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, have today on World Curlew Day ( April 21st) welcomed a significant conservation breakthrough for the Curlew, one of our most recognisable and threatened wading birds.
Darryl Armitage

The Belfast Hills Partnership are delighted to be teaming up with the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) to deliver a short lecture series exploring the geology of the Belfast Hills this spring.

Lecture series to explore the geology of the Belfast Hills this spring

Blue-green algae at Battery Harbour on Lough Neagh near Cookstown in Co Tyrone. Picture date: Monday August 25, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Lough Neagh sand mining likely harming lake’s ecosystem, Queen’s research warns

Curlew in flight c.Marlies Nicolai, GWCT

GWCT’s Curlew Conservation in Wales given nearly £1 million

Pictured in Mitchelstown, Co Cork at the launch of The Blackwater Catchment Action Plan, as part of the Teagasc Better Farming for Water Campaign are Pat Clancy, chairperson Dairygold, Philip Murphy, Teagasc Blackwater Catchment coordinator, Michael Harte, chief executive Dairygold, Professor Pat Dillon, Teagasc director of research, Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc director, Billy Cronin, Dairygold head of member services and engagement, Orlaith Tynan, Dairygold head of sustainability and environmental strategy, Dr Stan Lalor, Teagasc director of knowledge transfer and Liam Herlihy, Teagasc chairman. Picture: O'Gorman Photography.

Blackwater Catchment Action Plan hopes to to improve water quality

Paludiculture study sites, Netherlands

Research shows flood tolerant wetland crops could also support nature recovery

A team of researchers from Queen’s University Belfast have introduced a new tool that can measure the invisible, systemic changes to ecosystems caused by biological invasions.

Queen’s scientists unveil new tool to measure invisible ecosystem invaders

The critically endangered Old Irish Goat shares a 3,000-year genetic link with goats living in Ireland during the Late Bronze Age, new research has revealed. Picture: The Old Irish Goat Society

Research reveals that the Old Irish Goat carries 3,000 years of Irish history

Queen’s University Belfast has secured over €295,000 as part of a €1.2 million international award to develop rapid, non-invasive tests for monitoring fish health in salmon aquaculture.

€1.2m project to develop non-invasive disease detection for Atlantic salmon

Female yellowhammer in the snow c.Pete Thompson, GWCT

Big Farmland Bird Count has been extended by another week after adverse weather

Cornwall Wildlife Trust is celebrating the return of wild beavers to Cornwall, as the county’s first fully licenced release has now taken place - a landmark moment for nature recovery both in Cornwall, and nationally.

Watch: Wild beavers release marks new chapter for nature recovery in Cornwall

The launch of the Big Farmland Bird Count at the Allerton Project

Why it counts to take part in The Big Farmland Bird Count this year

As Valentine’s Day approaches and the nations’ love birds are busy making amorous plans, the celebrated Saint’s day also marks the start of National Nest Box Week.

Boxing clever for early birds this Valentine’s Day

Farming Life news

Met Office science helps protect UK plants from rising pest risks

Contributing to BBC Northern Ireland’s The View programme, Indaver, the European waste management specialists behind plans to develop a modern waste management solution to meet the needs of six Northern Ireland councils making up the arc21 partnership, has warned that Northern Ireland is facing a looming waste crisis unless it delivers the necessary infrastructure to manage its own waste.

Stark warning of looming waste crisis in Northern Ireland highlighted by Indaver

Agriculture and Land-use in Ireland – Pathways to a Sustainable Future, will take place on the 26th and 27th of May 2026 at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co Laois

Research conference to to explore solutions for sustainable agriculture

John Kennedy, (I-WeBS Scientific Officer, BirdWatch) Tony Murray, (Ornithologist, NPWS), Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD and Claire Deasy, (Conservation Ranger, NPWS)

Publication on World Wetlands Day charts 33 journey of wetland birds in Ireland

Langdale, England. Credit Richard Bardgett

Removing livestock from grasslands could compromise long-term carbon storage

The start of the national annual census of farmland birds – The Big Farmland Bird Count – begins in at the end of this week and the organisers of the count are calling on farmers and other ‘working conservationists’ up and down the country to take part.

Get set, get ready, get the app for the Big Farmland Bird Count 2026

Pictured at the launch of the Better Farming for Water Action Plan in the Suir River Catchment are Professor Pat Dillon, Teagasc director of research; Stephen Connolly, ABP Ireland; Edward Carr, chair of the Suir Catchment Implementation Group; Noel Meehan, head of Teagasc water quality knowledge transfer department, Claire Mooney, co-ordinator for the Suir Catchment and Eamon O'Sullivan, chief executive ArraTipp. Picture O'Gorman Photography

Suir Catchment Better Farming for Water Action Plan is launched

Pictured at the launch are: Ciaran Sheelan, catchment co-ordinator for the Nore Catchment, Jim Bergin, chairman of the Better Farming for Water Stakeholder Steering Group, Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc director, Eamonn Sheehan, chair of the Nore Catchment Implementation Group, Alana Coyne, Dawn Meats, Paul Nolan, Dawn Meats, and Richard O’Brien, Teagasc Waterford/ Kilkenny regional manager

Nore Catchment Better Farming for Water action plan launched

Great tit Parus major, December

Cold weather in Europe could mean bumper year for migratory birds in gardens

Adrian Thornton-Berry, farmer and leading the Forage for CH4nge project and Ellie Raynor from the GWCT

Study shows moorland sheep emit lower levels of both methane and carbon dioxide

Returning to Halley from the Clean Air Sector Laboratory

Why not escape the January blues and apply for a job in Antarctica?

In 2025, it is suspected that a total of seven RSPB satellite-tagged Hen Harriers were illegally killed on or near grouse moors in northern England, with one Hen Harrier confirmed poisoned and six more disappearing in suspicious circumstances – all sending their final transmission on or near land managed for grouse shooting.

Six more rare Hen Harriers vanish on or near grouse moors with another poisoned

The Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards for 2026 were launched this week. Pictured at the launch from left to right are Liam Herlihy, Chairperson of the Teagasc Authority, Emer O’Byrne, national head of branch strategy, FBD Insurance, Michael Berkery, chair FBD Trust, Professor Frank O’Mara, director of Teagasc, Shannon McGovern, Signpost communications and engagement officer and Dr Tom O’Dwyer, head of climate and biodiversity KT, Teagasc

2026 Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards launched

Birdwatchers across the UK have been charting the rise and rise of the very distinctive Little Egret for decades, but scientists have been unable to accurately calculate the breeding population of this relative newcomer.

BTO research sheds a new light on UK’s Little Egret population

Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams

Mount Stewart welcomes BBC Winterwatch to the historic Co Down estate

Glensaugh Research Farm. Picture: The James Hutton Institute

Hutton awarded nearly funding for nature restoration at Glensaugh Research Farm

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