#Juanita Browne

#Juanita Browne

Juanita Browne has written a number of wildlife books, including My First Book of Irish Animals and The Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife. Contact the author at IrishWildlifeBooks@gmail.com.

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>A Note for Nature: Clare Sands and Susan O’Neill performing ‘Carry My Song’. Crossing the Line Productions. And a gannet, basking shark, and humpback whale tail</p>

outdoors

New Irish wildlife documentary is a hymn to nature and a cry for help

Even in producing such a beautiful celebration of nature, the filmmakers do not shy away from including scenes of its devastation, too — a beautiful white swan swims in a pool of litter and a seal has a noose of plastic netting around its neck

<p>A Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) young chick.</p>

outdoors

Juanita Browne: No need to wing it — tips for watching waders

A word of warning though: dogs (even on a leash) can disturb wading birds and force them to miss out on feeding time

<p>A Robin keeps an eye on things from its garden perch in Blackrock, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan</p>

outdoors

Winter is a robin's time to shine — and sing out

When my sister died in 2008, my parents began to have regular visits from a robin who would hop into their kitchen. Sure, it may have just been a cheeky, hungry bird who was simply looking for food, but they took it as a nice little message from their daughter

Is there anything as romantic as kissing under a parasitic poisonous plant?

outdoors

Is there anything as romantic as kissing under a parasitic poisonous plant?

Kung Fu Robin - 'Bring it on' - PSP 1

outdoors

One of the most aggressive birds you could meet... the truth about the friendly robin redbreast

DENIS SCANNELL

outdoors

Holly: Christmas decoration, protector, and shapeshifter

Warmth and safety in numbers for wagtails

Warmth and safety in numbers for wagtails

The birds also notice each other’s weight and physique when they meet up to find out who it might be worth following the next morning when they head out to feed

Tue, 29 Nov, 2022

Here's how to get involved in a 'heritage keeper' project in your school or area

Here's how to get involved in a 'heritage keeper' project in your school or area

It could be a project on local signage or heritage trails or the construction of a wildlife pond...

Tue, 22 Nov, 2022

Juanita Browne: Give some really wild Christmas gifts this year

Juanita Browne: Give some really wild Christmas gifts this year

Unusual art, tweety toys that make bird sounds, or calendars and annual subscriptions — there's something for every nature lover here

Wed, 16 Nov, 2022

Juanita Browne: Gorgeous and practical autumn brings a riot of colour to native woodlands

Juanita Browne: Gorgeous and practical autumn brings a riot of colour to native woodlands

Deciduous leaves are typically thin and would be damaged by freezing weather so the tree 'decides' to drop them each Autumn and go for a fresh start in the Spring

Tue, 25 Oct, 2022

Pocket forests can be as small as a single car parking space — would one work in your area?

Pocket forests can be as small as a single car parking space — would one work in your area?

These are miniature versions of a natural woodland — you just get so much bird life, you get so much insect life, even in the first growing season

Tue, 11 Oct, 2022

Spider in the Bath

Autumn brings some unwanted house guests — spiders are fully loaded and looking for love

At this time of year, it can seem like spiders and crane flies are invading your home...

Tue, 27 Sep, 2022

Juanita Browne: Going wild at school — and other valuable lessons

Juanita Browne: Going wild at school — and other valuable lessons

As well as the nature table there are so many interactive resources available to help teach children about our native animals, plants and birds. Check these ones out...

Tue, 20 Sep, 2022

Nature food - blackberries bunch on a farm.

Juanita Browne: Time to enjoy the blackberries

Sméara dubha are free food enjoyed here since ancient times — just make sure to pick them before Halloween

Tue, 13 Sep, 2022

Wasp on a drink can

Juanita Browne: There’s a wasp in my drink, what should I do?

Why do they do that and what can I do about it?

Tue, 06 Sep, 2022

Juanita Browne: I found a wasp nest — does it need to be destroyed immediately?

Juanita Browne: I found a wasp nest — does it need to be destroyed immediately?

It might actually not be so bad having some wasps as temporary neighbours

Tue, 23 Aug, 2022

Juanita Browne: Wild Child Day is coming up — make your plans now

Juanita Browne: Wild Child Day is coming up — make your plans now

From bug identification to bee-keeping and whale-watching, there's something for everyone interested in wildlife

Thu, 11 Aug, 2022

Juanita Browne: Pesticides harm more than the weeds and pests they’re designed to kill

Juanita Browne: Pesticides harm more than the weeds and pests they’re designed to kill

Pesticide chemicals are showing up in fruit, drinking water and breastmilk

Tue, 19 Jul, 2022

Juanita Browne: enjoying the night life — tracking down the water bat

Juanita Browne: enjoying the night life — tracking down the water bat

Sign up to get a 'bat detector' and your data will be fed into an All-Ireland bat survey

Tue, 12 Jul, 2022

Gannets Underwater

Juanita Browne: Visit a seabird colony — they're wildlife wonders

Gannets are perfectly designed for diving, they torpedo into the water from 30 metres or more above the surface and hit the water at 100kmph

Tue, 05 Jul, 2022

Juanita Browne: Helping wild animals — sometimes intervention isn’t the answer

Juanita Browne: Helping wild animals — sometimes intervention isn’t the answer

Wildlife rehabilitation is a job for experts and hopefully, Ireland will soon have its own national Wildlife Rehabilitation and Teaching Hospital

Tue, 21 Jun, 2022

This Father’s Day, why not relax and leave the lawnmower in the shed?

This Father’s Day, why not relax and leave the lawnmower in the shed?

Do yourself and our wildlife a favour by reducing your grass-cutting

Tue, 14 Jun, 2022

This Father’s Day, why not relax and leave the lawnmower in the shed?

This Father’s Day, why not relax and leave the lawnmower in the shed?

Do yourself and our wildlife a favour by reducing your grass-cutting

Tue, 14 Jun, 2022

Juanita Browne: World Oceans Day — see what you can see at the seaside

Juanita Browne: World Oceans Day — see what you can see at the seaside

Did you know that Ireland is one of the largest countries in Europe — when our seabed territory is taken into account

Tue, 07 Jun, 2022

DON'T LOOK UP

Juanita Browne: Don’t look anywhere… if you don't want to see Ireland's biodiversity emergency

The National Biodiversity Conference offers the opportunity for public consultation on the next National Biodiversity Action Plan, which will be so vital to conservation in Ireland over the next five years

Tue, 31 May, 2022

Young hedgehog in natural habitat

There's a hedgehog living in my garden — can I feed it bread & milk, and how can I keep it safe?

The hedgehog's Irish name is ‘Gráinneog' which means 'ugly one' — but up close their beautiful faces and bright eyes are just lovely. Here's how to look after your 'guest' if one visits your garden

Tue, 24 May, 2022

Fields of Ireland

Juanita Browne: Celebrate World Bee Day by helping our wild bees

We also need to protect the flight paths used by birds and bats — and the commuter belts which are important to our hedgehogs, foxes and badgers

Tue, 17 May, 2022

common swift in flight

Juanita Browne: Nature is amazing – let’s celebrate it this Biodiversity Week

It’s really important to remind ourselves that nature is still there, still surviving and ready and waiting to gain a foothold wherever it can

Tue, 10 May, 2022

Spectacular landscape of the Burren region of County Clare, Ireland. Exposed karst limestone bedrock at the Burren National Park

Juanita Browne: Why May is the perfect time to visit the Burren

‘Burren in Bloom’ returns this month and celebrates the region’s rich biodiversity

Tue, 03 May, 2022

Swallow, Hirundo rustica

Juanita Browne: Return of migrant birds a sign summer is on its way

By logging your sightings you will help to populate an interactive map that shows records across over 50 countries

Tue, 19 Apr, 2022

Frog guarding its spawn, in a Doncaster pond, South Yorkshire, England

Juanita Browne: How frogspawn transforms from tadpole to frog

I was always amazed by this creature that begins life looking like a small fish but transforms into a land-loving four-legged creature, with lungs like us

Tue, 05 Apr, 2022

Juanita Browne: Do you have 10 minutes to carry out an easy pollinator survey?

Juanita Browne: Do you have 10 minutes to carry out an easy pollinator survey?

If you’ve been planting pollinator-friendly flowers or reducing pesticide use or grass-cutting, doing regular FIT counts will allow you to measure the impact of those actions

Tue, 29 Mar, 2022

Juanita Browne: We need to celebrate the recovery of the elusive Irish ‘tree cat’

Juanita Browne: We need to celebrate the recovery of the elusive Irish ‘tree cat’

Many Irish people know little about the pine marten, a beautiful native mammal

Tue, 22 Mar, 2022

Juanita Browne: Let's help the all-important females of the wildlife world, like queen bees

Juanita Browne: Let's help the all-important females of the wildlife world, like queen bees

Let’s hear it for the bumblebee queens!

Tue, 15 Mar, 2022

Hiking

Juanita Browne: Now we can post a tweet instead of posting a dead bird to a scientist

Social media and technology have transformed biodiversity recording, writes Juanita Browne

Wed, 09 Mar, 2022

Festive Robin Scene

Juanita Browne: How wildlife survives harsh winter weather and storm after storm

Winter is usually the most challenging time of year for wildlife

Tue, 01 Mar, 2022

Juanita Browne: How to identify wildflowers and why you should record your findings

Juanita Browne: How to identify wildflowers and why you should record your findings

Even absolute beginners can help in this massive nationwide project to record Ireland's rich diversity of spring flowers

Tue, 22 Feb, 2022

Juanita Browne: It's the perfect time to plant a native tree

Juanita Browne: It's the perfect time to plant a native tree

You'll be helping our native wildlife and creating a natural carbon sink

Tue, 15 Feb, 2022

Juanita Browne: How feeding the birds can help your mental health and ease eco-anxiety

Juanita Browne: How feeding the birds can help your mental health and ease eco-anxiety

Who knew watching a blue tit outside your window could be so good for your soul, writes Juanita Browne

Mon, 14 Feb, 2022

Puzzles hub