Ornithology

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Two Caribbean flamingos ganging up on another bird. A new study suggests the birds form cliques of like-minded individuals and tend to spend time with others whose personality is similar to their own. The study revealed the complex nature of flamingo societies and could help in the management of captive flocks. Picture: Paul Rose/WWT/PA Wire</p>

outdoors

Flamingo personalities analysed and 'birds of a feather' really do flock together

As in all crowded situations, avian or human, rows erupt from time to time. Being with like-minded individuals offers support in times of stress.

outdoors

Islands of Ireland: Are ye right there for a trip to Illaunaclaggin, are ye right?

The West Clare Railway might have had notorious timetable issues — but the ducks, geese, swans, and other birds have no problem getting onto or off this island

<p>Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) smashing snails on a rock — the song thrush is also a prolific breeder and can have two or three broods in a season</p>

outdoors

Donal Hickey: My backyard musician kicks off at 3am but he's a total pro and sounds great

He's a song thrush who looks good too and should have no bother with courtship

outdoors

From urban foxes to suburban songbirds: Culchies and townies in the animal and bird world

outdoors

A good time to spot our winter visitors

Portrait of an American Mink ((Mustela vison) in the Rain

outdoors

Richard Collins: New year, new start for Rathlin's ferret-catcher

birds tits and sparrows sit on the feeder and et oil with seeds and nuts in the winter garden

How often should I clean my bird feeder?

Mouldy seeds or fatballs can spread disease, warn experts — and smaller birdfeeders are often easier to clean

Mon, 23 Jan, 2023

Islands of Ireland: Avoid Roe Island in spring so you don't disturb nesting birds

The islands of Strangford Lough are also known as pladdies and resemble a stationary pod of whales

Fri, 20 Jan, 2023

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

Tue, 03 Jan, 2023

How to help birds survive in winter and why cleaning bird feeders can prevent disease

The BirdWatch Ireland advice is to clean bird feeders thoroughly at least once a week to control the trichomonas parasite which has impacted many finches

Sat, 10 Dec, 2022

Richard Collins: Working to make these raptors welcome

The pale-grey male Hen Harrier is known as ‘the seagull hawk’ in the west of Ireland — they get their name from raiding chicken coops but they also feed on small mammals and birds

Thu, 08 Dec, 2022

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

Richard Collins: From Iceland to Ireland for our wild geese

Around October, Icelandic greylags fly 1,300km directly across the ocean to Ireland. They have been doing so for millennia

Thu, 06 Oct, 2022

Rare albatross sighting off Irish coast

These birds with a wing-span of more than 2 metres use updrafts to get airborne — exploiting air currents, they can fly almost without flapping their wings

Fri, 09 Sep, 2022

UCC scientist fits tiny trackers to 36 Manx shearwaters to measure their dives

The researchers find that climate change could negatively impact seabird populations by making prey more difficult to detect

Fri, 12 Aug, 2022

Donal Hickey: Plenty to see — and learn from — in new Cork bird book

Urgent efforts needed to save crucial bird habitats

Thu, 11 Aug, 2022

Pair of male and female eursian bullfinch sitting just above water level

Sexual shenanigans versus a lovey-dovey image — bullfinch research

Flings, divorce and polygamy are all common for garden birds though the bullfinch had a better reputation than most... until now

Fri, 22 Jul, 2022

Islands of Ireland: Manx shearwater puffins thrive on Cruagh Island but dogs haven't fared well there

Cruagh, County Galway is also popular with daytrippers from Cleggan

Fri, 10 Jun, 2022

Richard Collins: Stunning work once dismissed as that of a self-taught amateur with ideas above his station

Some of the finest wildlife depictions ever created are Audubon's metre-high bird pictures

Thu, 28 Apr, 2022

Richard Collins: How fear alone can impact birds and lower population growth

Was Roosevelt wrong; have we, in fact, much to fear from fear itself?

Thu, 24 Feb, 2022

Where are all the dead pigeons?

It may not seem like one of life’s great mysteries, but a quick internet search reveals that people from across the world – London to Hong Kong, Cape Town to Buenos Aires – are asking this same question: for all the pigeons out there in our cities, where are all the dead ones?

Thu, 12 Jul, 2018

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Ornithology

Flamingo personalities analysed and 'birds of a feather' really do flock together

Islands of Ireland: Are ye right there for a trip to Illaunaclaggin, are ye right?

Donal Hickey: My backyard musician kicks off at 3am but he's a total pro and sounds great

From urban foxes to suburban songbirds: Culchies and townies in the animal and bird world

A good time to spot our winter visitors

Richard Collins: New year, new start for Rathlin's ferret-catcher

How often should I clean my bird feeder?

Islands of Ireland: Avoid Roe Island in spring so you don't disturb nesting birds

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

How to help birds survive in winter and why cleaning bird feeders can prevent disease

Richard Collins: Working to make these raptors welcome

Warmth and safety in numbers for wagtails

Richard Collins: From Iceland to Ireland for our wild geese

Rare albatross sighting off Irish coast

UCC scientist fits tiny trackers to 36 Manx shearwaters to measure their dives

Donal Hickey: Plenty to see — and learn from — in new Cork bird book

Sexual shenanigans versus a lovey-dovey image — bullfinch research

Islands of Ireland: Manx shearwater puffins thrive on Cruagh Island but dogs haven't fared well there

Richard Collins: Stunning work once dismissed as that of a self-taught amateur with ideas above his station

Richard Collins: How fear alone can impact birds and lower population growth

Where are all the dead pigeons?

Latest

Mick Clifford

Ornithology

Flamingo personalities analysed and 'birds of a feather' really do flock together

Islands of Ireland: Are ye right there for a trip to Illaunaclaggin, are ye right?

Donal Hickey: My backyard musician kicks off at 3am but he's a total pro and sounds great

From urban foxes to suburban songbirds: Culchies and townies in the animal and bird world

A good time to spot our winter visitors

Richard Collins: New year, new start for Rathlin's ferret-catcher

How often should I clean my bird feeder?

Islands of Ireland: Avoid Roe Island in spring so you don't disturb nesting birds

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

How to help birds survive in winter and why cleaning bird feeders can prevent disease

Richard Collins: Working to make these raptors welcome

Warmth and safety in numbers for wagtails

Richard Collins: From Iceland to Ireland for our wild geese

Rare albatross sighting off Irish coast

UCC scientist fits tiny trackers to 36 Manx shearwaters to measure their dives

Donal Hickey: Plenty to see — and learn from — in new Cork bird book

Sexual shenanigans versus a lovey-dovey image — bullfinch research

Islands of Ireland: Manx shearwater puffins thrive on Cruagh Island but dogs haven't fared well there

Richard Collins: Stunning work once dismissed as that of a self-taught amateur with ideas above his station

Richard Collins: How fear alone can impact birds and lower population growth

Where are all the dead pigeons?

Latest

Mick Clifford

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