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The first episode of the new season of In Your Nature Podcast is finally here. This time Ricky and Niall chat about a mutually favoured topic - the crow family. 

The conversation discusses Ireland's seven native species of corvid from the largest, the Raven to the most secretive, the Jay. The chat is full of facts, folklore and praise for these highly intelligent birds. The humble Rook is nominated "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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In this episode Ricky and Niall chat about traditional links between birds and Christmas. We discuss the birds mentioned in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, the long association between Robins and the festive season and how best to take care of our feathered friends in our gardens over the cold winter months. We hope you enjoy and Happy Christmas! 

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

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In the final episode of In Your Nature Season #2 Niall and Ricky share with us their knowledge of the Curlew. The conversation covers their ecology, migratory movements and lots more, almost in a bid to delay the inevitable conversation about the decline of the Eurasian Curlew and many of its closely related cousins. 

A frank interview with BirdWatch Irelands Anita Donaghy (Assistant Head of Conservation) leaves us in no doubt as to the rapid changes we need to make within the areas of farming , forestry and planning as few defend the last remaining Curlew from the annual barrage of nest predators.  

Bird of the week is an enemy of our ground nesting species, the Hooded Crow.
  
This podcast is made in partnership with Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Biodiversity Action Plan, and the Heritage Council.

This podcast is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

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

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The Irish coastline and offshore Islands are home to some of the biggest seabird colonies in Europe. It's at these colonies you will find the hardiest and some of the most handsome breeding birds in Ireland. 

A message from the Rockabill Wardens will give listeners a brief insight into life living amongst a seabird colony off the Dublin coast. Niall and Ricky introduce us to the seabird species that Ireland boasts and give us the facts, anecdotes and tips that will leave you planning a trip to the coast. 

Bird of the week is the tiny and mysterious Storm Petrel.
  
This podcast is made in partnership with Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Biodiversity Action Plan, and the Heritage Council.

This podcast is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

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

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There is no such thing as a seagull! Ricky and Niall provide evidence for this statement and look at Irelands seven breeding gull species and point out some of the more likeable characteristics of this frequently misunderstood family of birds.

We chat about intelligence, adaptability and the  global distribution of gulls and how they are excellent parents and why they receive an awful lot of bad press. 

Bird of the week is back and we look at the only truly sea faring gull in Ireland, the Kittiwake!
  
This podcast is made in partnership with Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Biodiversity Action Plan, and the Heritage Council.

This podcast is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

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

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In Your Nature celebrates the curiosity of children in this special episode! Niall and Ricky answer questions submitted and put to them by children during years of presenting talks and walks about birds to young people.  

The topics are broad and hit on all sorts, from "How do owls turn their necks all the way around" to "are Moorhens the bossiest birds" . There is something here for everyone in this one-hour special.

This episode is released earlier than the usual Monday release to coincide with Cruinniú na nÓg on Saturday June 12th. 

Bird of the week returns in episode #10.
  
This podcast is made in partnership with Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Biodiversity Action Plan, and the Heritage Council.

This podcast is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

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

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In Your Nature Season 2 continues with an episode looking at the unique landscape and nature of The Shannon Callows. We interview BirdWatch Ireland breeding wader expert and born & bred callows woman Kathryn Finney, who gives us a great local insight. 

We chat about, farming, floods and fences, and their impact on the birds within this internationally important wetland landscape. 

Bird of the week is the little-known Whinchat, a bird pushed to the margins but well worth discovering. 
  
This podcast is made in partnership with Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Biodiversity Action Plan, and the Heritage Council.

This podcast is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

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

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In Your Nature returns with its first episode (of 6) planned for this summer season. This week we are chatting about Swifts, a bird species that has captivated the imagination of many and it's clear that hosts Ricky Whelan and Niall Hatch are also smitten with this charismatic urbanite. 

The chat explores the Swifts unique ecology, the threats they face and some solutions to these the problems are offered. 

Species of the week is the humble House Sparrow.
 
 This podcast is made in partnership with Heritage Offices of Laois and Offaly County Councils with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Biodiversity Action Plan, and the Heritage Council

This podcast is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

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

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This is the final episode in our spring series, we will return with new In Your Nature Episodes in June. In this episode we chat about the wonder of Wildflowers. We welcome our second guest to In Your Nature in Dr Fiona MacGowan, a Botanist and professional Ecologist. We discuss wildflowers you are likely to spot in early spring, their importance for pollinating insects and we also chat about the humble hedgerow . 

Species of the week is the Mistle Thrush.

This Podcast is brought to you by BirdWatch Ireland, Laois and Offaly County Councils and the Keep Well Campaign, an initiative of the Government of Ireland with funding from the Healthy Ireland Fund and the Sláintecare Fund delivered by Pobal."

The In Your Nature Podcast is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

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

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In this episode we chat about bogs. We welcome our first guest in Dr Catherine Farrell,  an experienced peatland ecologist and researcher at Trinity College Dublin. We discuss the pressures our peatlands face and the opportunities for nature and fighting climate change when we restore and rehabilitate our damaged bogland habitats. 

Species of the week is the Common Snipe.

This Podcast is brought to you by BirdWatch Ireland, Laois and Offaly County Councils and the Keep Well Campaign, an initiative of the Government of Ireland with funding from the Healthy Ireland Fund and the Sláintecare Fund delivered by Pobal."

The In Your Nature Podcast is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly

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