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In Your Nature takes us to Cape Clear Island in south-west Cork. Cape Clear is a legendary spot among Irish and British birders and is home to BirdWatch Ireland's Cape Clear Birds Observatory, established over 60 years ago. 

Niall chats to long-standing observatory warden -Steve Wing on the history, life, culture and goings on of obs and island life as well as the odd remarkable bird! 

Bird of the Week is and can only be observatory mascot & logo, the Great Shearwater. 

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly.

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

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In Ireland we are lucky to host five breeding Tern species, namely; the Common, Arctic, Roseate, Little and Sandwich Tern. In this episode we look at these gracious birds in detail and chat about their identifying features, ecology and breeding sites. 

We chat to Dr Stephen Newton - Senior Seabird Conservation Officer with BirdWatch Ireland on Tern conservation in Ireland over three decades and look at the many successes of these efforts.

Bird of the week is the majestic Black Tern, a non-breeding annual visitor to our shores albeit in small numbers. The Black Tern is a species of "marsh tern" differing in ecology from our five sea tern species which we discuss. 

Thanks to Seán Ronayne (Irish Wildlife Sounds) for much of the Tern audio. 

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

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In this episode we take a close look at the Barn Owl and speak to John Lusby - Raptor Conservation Officer with BirdWatch Ireland on conservation efforts to help the species in Ireland. 

Our interview with John reflects on well over a decade of Barn Owl conservation projects in Ireland. We discover how fortunes have changed for the species, aided by a surprising source. We look at three key aspects improving conditions for Barn Owls including; the provision of nest boxes, responsible rodenticide use and thoughtful road verge planning. 

Bird of the week pays homage to the Feral Pigeon, possibly the most overlooked and underrated bird species there is!

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly.

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

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In this episode we look closely at Bird Flu, with the current outbreak having ripped through seabird colonies across the UK and with the first confirmed cases in ROI.

Ricky and Niall look at the origins, effects and probable outcomes of avian influenza in our bird communities. 

Bird of the Week is back with Great Skua, aka "Bonxie" under the spotlight. 

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly.

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

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In Your Nature is back with its summer season and we're kicking off with an episode all about "riverbirds". 

We focus on five river specialists, the Kingfisher, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Sand Martin and the Common Sandpiper. Niall and Ricky discuss the identifying features, ecology and interesting adaptations these species have developed for life on the river. 

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

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This episode is crammed with bird audio and beautiful soundscapes recorded by Sean Ronayne, the Creator of Irish Wildlife Sounds. Sean talks us through the process, places and protagonists involved in his recordings of birds and wild places.

We are brought on a journey from the wetlands of Spain to a shed roof in Cork all in pursuit of the perfect sound clip. We get to savor the rasping song of the Corn Crake and the cry of the Curlew among some less rare species too. 

For bird of the week we highlight the Grasshopper Warbler, a summer visitor to our shores and a songster with a very interesting tune. 

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly.

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

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Bird eggs are the topic for this In Your Nature episode. We follow the journey of the egg, all the way from formation through to hatching. These fascinating little capsules carry all bird life into the world and form such an interesting part in the story of birds. 

Ode to their beautifully diverse eggs we choose Guillemots as bird of the week! 

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly.

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

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We are off to Cork with this episode to check in Harpers Island a fantastic wetland reserve close to Cork City. The reserve is managed for birds and wildlife by volunteers from a collaborative of local groups and is a real mecca for the wild flora and fauna in the region. 

Ricky chats to Jim Wilson an established ornithologist, author, wildlife expert and founding member of the Harpers Island reserve. They discuss the origins of the project, the habitats found there, the management and birds of the island.  

For bird of the week we look at the Black-tailed Godwit. 

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly.

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

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Since humans occupied and began to alter our landscape there have been winners and loosers amongst our bird species. Humans impact on the avifauna of Ireland has been mostly negative with persecution, over hunting and habitat destruction/loss being big drivers in the extinction process. 

Ricky and Niall look at some species that are long extinct, some that have slipped away in the recent past and others that have returned. Some fabulous species feature in this episode including, the bittern, the common crane, the marsh harrier and corn bunting among them. The chat ends on a positive note as it turns to the potential of the midlands bogs to host thriving populations of cranes, bittern, marsh harrier and other wetland specialists. 

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

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There have been three species reintroductions of birds of prey in Ireland since the early 2000s. Ricky and Niall discuss the advantages and challenges of this method of bird conservation.

Ricky chats to Dr Allan Mee on the specifics of the Golden Eagle Trusts work to establish a viable breeding White-tailed Eagle population in Ireland after an absence of hundreds of years. 

Bird of the week focuses on the charismatic Red Kite. 

In Your Nature is produced in partnership with the Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils, supported by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

For more about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.