RSPB NI

Lapwing spotted while surveying

Protecting breeding waders

RSPB Northern Ireland has announced a new initiative to restore lowland raised bogs in the Bann Valley, South Lough Neagh, and East Fermanagh regions.

RSPB NI champions nature and climate action with recovery programme

Michelle Duggan surveying a farm in County Down

Farmers deliver hope for County Down’s farmland birds

Linnet pocking it's head out on at a County Down farm.

Farmers deliver hope for County Down’s farmland birds

Detection dog, Woody, meeting one of his handlers Michael Rafferty

Bait drops in one of the UK’s most ambitious attempts to save seabirds

RSPB NI is delighted to announce the Curlew breeding results for this season. Once facing the threat of extinction, this species is now on the path to recovery, thanks to the work of dedicated RSPB NI staff and local farmers, working in partnership through the Curlew LIFE project

Curlew LIFE project sparks turnaround with record number of chicks fledged

New economic analysis, published this week, demonstrates that the current agricultural budget is significantly less than what is required, in order for the Northern Ireland agricultural sector to help tackle the nature and climate crisis.  Picture: Jack Farrar

RSPB: New report reveals £413 million needed per year to help save nature

Curlew chick with parents on Trasna

The beginning of new life on Trasna Island after major habitat restoration

RSPB NI has announced that the distinctive call of the Corncrake has been heard once again on Rathlin Island on 17th April)

Rathlin Island Revival – Three male Corncrakes heard calling on the island

RSPB NI has announced that the distinctive call of the Corncrake has been heard once again on Rathlin Island on 17th April)

Watch: Resurrecting the call of the elusive Corncrake on Rathlin Island

RSPB NI has announced that the distinctive call of the Corncrake has been heard once again on Rathlin Island on 17th April)

Watch: Resurrecting the call of the elusive Corncrake on Rathlin Island

In the run up to World Curlew Day (21st April), RSPB NI hosted an Open Day shining a spotlight on nature friendly farming in upland areas. Picture: RSPB

Nature Friendly Farming Network pays a visit to the Antrim Hills

RSPB NI has announced that the distinctive call of the Corncrake has been heard once again on Rathlin Island on 17th April)

Distinctive call of the Corncrake heard on its seasonal home of Rathlin Island

The enigmatic ‘sky-dancing’ Hen Harriers are a rare sight in most places throughout the UK, especially in Northern Ireland with only 34 territorial pairs recorded here in 2023 – a drop of over 26% since 2016. Picture: RSPB

Over a quarter of Hen Harriers have been lost from Northern Ireland skies

Katy Bell, Ulster Wildlife, Dawn Stocking, Ballycruttle Farm and Michelle Duggan RSPB NI. Picture: Ulster Wildlife

Ballycruttle barn owls defy odds with surprise winter brood

Barn owl chick being weighed. Picture: Ulster Wildlife

Ballycruttle barn owls defy odds with surprise winter brood
A pair of barn owls in Co Down have welcomed an extremely late winter brood – one of the latest recorded in Northern Ireland to date.
Darryl Armitage

From left to right, project partners Ian Stevenson (Dairy Council for Northern Ireland), Jonathan Bell (RSPBNI). Pic: Press Eye

‘A Guide to Nature Positive Dairy Farming’ launched

From left to right, project partners David Stewart (Lakeland Dairies), Ian Stevenson (Dairy Council for Northern Ireland), Neville Graham (Dale Farm), Jonathan Bell (RSPBNI). Pic: Press Eye

‘A Guide to Nature Positive Dairy Farming’ launched

Effects of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at RSPB Belfast's WoW. Picture: RSPB Images

RSPB NI calls for urgent action following confirmation of bird flu in wild birds

Tom Heap will host the event

RSPB NI host ‘Save our Wild Isles: Food and Farming’ Conference

The first Puffins of the season have returned to Rathlin Island, and they’re right on cue. Picture: RSPB

Puffins return to Rathlin Island colony of the coast of Northern Ireland

RSPB NI has revealed the results of its record-breaking curlew breeding season in 2022 which saw the number of curlew chicks successfully fledging in the Glenwherry area more than double compared to 2021. Picture: RSPB

Stunning curlew conservation success, as RSPB NI announces spectacular breeding ...

James and David Bonnar from the Glenwherry area of the Antrim Plateau.

Brothers providing nature with a home

James and David Bonnar.

Working with the landscape to better farm business

The Causeway Coast. Image: Andy Hay.

RSPB NI launches bespoke project aimed at reversing decline of iconic bird speci...

Katy Bell, from Ulster Wildlife, joins volunteer bird ringer David Galbraith to help ring one of the new chicks at Ballycruttle Farm. Ringing helps to track the birdsâ€TM movements and monitor the population. Three nest boxes were installed by Ulster Wildlife at Ballycruttle Farm last winter and barn owls will often return to the boxes to roost or breed.

New barn owl nest site discovered on nature-friendly farm in Co. Down

Win a bepoke beginners hamper and join the world’s largest wildlife survey!
To encourage people to get involved in RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch 2022 on 28th-30th January, we are giving one lucky winner the chance to bag themselves a bespoke hamper of birdwatching goodies to get them started!
By The Newsroom

News

Open letter to First Minister and deputy First Minister calls out ‘unambitious’ ...

LIFE Raft project partners and funders Mukesh Sharma NLHF, Graham Thompson CCGHT, Michael Cecil RDC, Claire Barnett RSPB NI and Gary Burrows DAERA

Rathlin conservation project gets green light

Minister Poots is pictured with Neal Warnock, RSPB NI Senior Conservation Officer and Joanne Sherwood, RSPB NI Director

Minister visits Antrim Hills to see DAERA-funded RSPB project

John Martin, Head of Policy and Advocacy, RSPB NI with Declan McAleer MLA and Philip McGuigan MLA

Leading charity RSPB launch a new pop-up shop like no other

RSPB NI, the leading conservation charity, is bringing us a dose of nature and shining a spotlight on one of Northern Ireland’s most endangered species, the curlew, through its latest webcam project, Curlew LIVE

RSPB NI launches new Curlew LIVE Nestcam Project

Garron Plateau by Northern Ireland WaterGarron Plateau by Northern Ireland Water

Economic benefit of peatland restoration revealed

‘History in the making’ as Climate Change Bill passes

RSPB NI calls for ban on peatland burning

Hedge your bets and look after birds this breeding season

Red kite pictured in Co Down this year. Picture: Mike McLaughlin

Eyes on the skies: RSPB NI appeals to public for red kite sightings

Green Recovery fund needed to ‘keep pace’

Proposed legislation could turn the tide on Northern Ireland’s devastating natur...

Peat dams on Garron Plateau - picture courtesy of NI Water

RSPB: Peatland restoration is vital if NI is serious about a green recovery

House sparrow Passer domesticus, young birds feeding on garden lawn. Co. Durham. July.

What to do if you find a baby bird on the ground

A red kite soaring over Co Down this year. Credit: Mark Douglas

Eyes on sky for soaring red kites

A calling corncrake captured on camera last summer by wildlife photographer Ronald Surgenor

Corncrake on Rathlin Island

The RSPB's Ric Else took this photograph of the puffins in Rathlin Island earlier this week

Rathlin Island’s punctual puffins back on the stacks

RSPB NI has begun a daily Breakfast Birdwatch, taking place between 8am and 9am on weekdays, at a time when many people would have been commuting to work, doing the school run, or otherwise unable to enjoy the splendour of nature from home

Be an early bird and catch the Breakfast Birdwatch

Ms Joanne Sherwood of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds NI (RSPB NI), responding to a question from William Irwin on bird population in Northern Ireland said: "The conditions in the environment and the way in which the land has been managed probably favour some generalist species. However, for the specialist species and that broader range of species, it is really important to have a healthy and functioning ecosystem."

Bird population, afforestation and hedgerows focus of committee evidence

Farming Life news

UFU and RSPB call to PM to protect UK food standards

UFU president Ivor Ferguson said: We are all agreed that Brexit provides the opportunity to foster a sustainable, carbon neutral model of farming in the UK building on our reputation for high quality, safe and affordable food.

UFU and RSPB call to PM to protect UK food standards

RSPB NI's policy officer Phil Carson

The impact of wildlife crime

Farmer Jack Kelly from east Co Down chats to the RSPB NI's policy offcer Phil Carson about the ongoing work on his farm

Farming is an important tool for conservation

"I think the work that the RSPB does here in Northern Ireland is very relevant to the farming sector. Engaging with a farmers is very important, we work with around about 300 hundred across Northern Ireland, and that is in a wide range of farming systems and landscapes as well," says the RSPB NI's policy officer Phil Carson

‘If you provide a home for nature it will return’

COT IN A MOMENT: RSPB NIâ¬"s Brad Robson and former RSPB Fermanagh warden Joe Magee launch the conservation charityâ¬"s new boat on Lower Lough Erne. The â¬Ücotâ¬" â¬ named â¬Üthe Joe Mageeâ¬" â¬ will be used to transport livestock on and off islands, with the animalsâ¬" grazing resulting in an ideal habitat for breeding wading birds including the endangered curlew. Funding for the cot came from the European Unionâ¬"s INTERREG VA Programme through the RSPB NI-led Co-operation Across Borders for Biodiversity (CABB) project. Picture: Ronan McGrade

RSPB NI launches new boat as part of its work to give curlews a home on Lower Lo...

Brad Robson and former RSPB Fermanagh warden Joe Magee launch the conservation charitys new boat on Lower Lough Erne. The cot named the Joe Magee will be used to transport livestock on and off islands, with the animals grazing resulting in an ideal habitat for breeding wading birds including the endangered curlew. Funding for the cot came from the European Unions INTERREG VA Programme through the RSPB NI-led Co-operation Across Borders for Biodiversity (CABB) project. Pictures: Ronan McGrade

RSPB NI launches new boat as part of its work to give curlews a home on Lower Lo...

A calling corncrake captured on camera this summer by wildlife photographer Ronald Surgenor

Two pairs of corncrakes confirmed on Rathlin

A corncrake captured this summer by wildlife photographer Ronald Surgenor

WATCH: RSPB confirms two pairs of corncrakes recorded on Rathlin Island