60 Tindle Radio Tindle Radio sarah@midlands103.com The In Your Nature Podcast brings you conversations about birds & wildlife, wild places, the work of BirdWatch Ireland and wildlife conservationists. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly and Westmeath County Councils and the Heritage Council and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ en-us Copyright Tindle Radio Aiir Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:59:30 +0000 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:59:30 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss webmaster@aiir.com (Aiir) Music nature no Tindle Radio The In Your Nature Podcast brings you conversations about birds & wildlife, wild places, the work of BirdWatch Ireland and wildlife conservationists. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly and Westmeath County Councils and the Heritage Council and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. https://mmo.aiircdn.com/277/64bf92e29d968.jpg In Your Nature https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ The In Your Nature Podcast brings you conversations about birds & wildlife, wild places, the work of BirdWatch Ireland and wildlife conservationists. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly and Westmeath County Councils and the Heritage Council and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. Tindle Radio no In this episode Ricky and Niall chat about traditional links between birds and Christmas. o277-4417-64ba79a414963 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 12:27:16 +0000 0:32:39 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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! Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no 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. o277-4417-64ba7180f0b7f sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:52:00 +0000 0:52:04 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no 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. o277-4417-64ba70b58bfbd sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:49:00 +0000 0:37:34 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no Since humans occupied and began to alter our landscape there have been winners and loosers amongst our bird species. o277-4417-64ba6fdb411dc sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:45:00 +0000 0:36:57 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no 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. o277-4417-64ba6f0597c44 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:41:00 +0000 0:40:50 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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. Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no 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. o277-4417-64ba6deadd949 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:37:00 +0000 0:49:52 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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. Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no This week's episode is all about "riverbirds". We focus on five river specialists, the Kingfisher, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Sand Martin and the Common Sandpiper. o277-4417-64ba6abfde5f8 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:23:00 +0000 0:44:31 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ This week's episode is 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no 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. o277-4417-64ba6929bf903 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:16:00 +0000 0:29:14 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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. Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no 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. o277-4417-64ba6857e0109 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:13:00 +0000 0:51:15 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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. Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no In our first ever live episode we get in the the room with BirdWatch Ireland colleague Brian Burke - Scientific Officer and Garden Bird Survey Coordinator and talk shop about the birds we all see in our gardens on a regular basis. o277-4417-64ba65ca76bfe sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:02:00 +0000 0:33:51 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ In the first episode of our winter season we take a deep dive into garden bird trends, who's on the up and who's not! In our first ever live episode we get in the the room with BirdWatch Ireland colleague Brian Burke - Scientific Officer and Garden Bird Survey Coordinator and talk shop about the birds we all see in our gardens on a regular basis. We look at the Garden Bird Survey and how you can get involved, improve your bird ID skills and how this citizen science is important in a conservation context. Bird of the Week is a wonderful wee finch, the Siskin!. 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 Ciarán O'Connor. Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no We depart from our primary topic of birds in this episode to explore the world of Spiders. o277-4417-64ba64b0f04ec sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:00:00 +0000 0:50:35 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ We depart from our primary topic of birds in this episode to explore the world of Spiders. Who better to talk to on the topic but Collie Ennis, spider expert, Research Associate at Trinity College and Scientific Officer with the Herpetological Society of Ireland (www.thehsi.org/). From a spiders life-cycle, to murderous mates and sub-aquatic species we learn heaps from a wonderful conversation with Collie. Our Bird of the Week is the is the Treecreeper, a species that enjoys more than a few spiders in its diet. 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 Ciarán O'Connor. Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no We return to conservation with raptor expert John Lusby and discuss Ireland's smallest breeding bird of prey, the Merlin. o277-4417-64ba63857f295 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:52:00 +0000 0:38:24 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ We return to conservation with raptor expert John Lusby and discuss Ireland's smallest breeding bird of prey, the Merlin. These tiny but deadly falcons have an interesting ecology in Ireland straying somewhat from the norm seen in the rest of Europe. Found in remote, difficult terrain and at low density, the Merlin is notoriously tricky to monitor. However, John has been using innovative techniques utilising drone technology to do just that. Bird of the Week is the Meadow Pipit, a common prey item of Merlin but a charismatic little species in its own right. 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 Ciarán O'Connor. Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no Ricky and Niall merge the diverse habitats of our bogs with the rich bird life found within them. o277-4417-64ba629f63a57 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:49:00 +0000 0:52:31 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ They discuss a broad range of bird and bogland species with the conversation going from childhood memories of the bog to cuckoos and then onto the threats facing our hen harrier populations. The chat covers a myriad of species from the carnivorous plant sundew, to meadow pipits and dragonflies with lots of bird song audio throughout for atmosphere. Our "Bird of the Week" is the common crane which after hundreds of years has returned to breed in Irish boglands once more! In Your Nature features Ricky Whelan, biodiversity officer with Offaly County Council in conversation with Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly and Westmeath County Councils and the Heritage Council Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no This weeks episode features Rob Gandola, Senior Science Officer at the The Herpetological Society of Ireland. o277-4417-64ba614fa5648 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Thu, 20 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000 0:55:05 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ Rob explains why ponds are essential for wildlife, how they can benefit us in terms of flood protection and recreationally, and provides tips for creating ponds of any size in our own gardens. Rob also explains the importance of ponds in the fight against climate change, with ponds estimated to sequester between 20 and 200 times more carbon than grasslands or woodlands of a similar size. Rob explains that the fact that these can be dug into most every back garden, residential or commercial development provides us with a proactive means to push back against climate change, while also providing essential habitat. Bird of the Week is the Grey Heron, one of the few species which can eat frogs, which are toxic to most creatures. This feature and their presence at ponds as well as other water bodies makes them the perfect choice for this weeks Bird of the Week. In Your Nature features Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer with Offaly County Council in conversation with Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly, and Westmeath County Councils and the Heritage Council. Further info links mentioned by Rob: - The Herpetological Society of Ireland - The Herpetological Society of Ireland – Education – Research -Conservation (thehsi.org) - An Taisce’s Legacy4LIFE Ponds for Biodiversity project - Legacy4LIFE - Ponds Project | An Taisce - The National Trust For Ireland - The Freshwater Habitats Trust - Buy The Pond Book - Freshwater Habitats TrustFreshwater Habitats Trust - Jack Ashton - How To Make the Ultimate Wildlife Pond - Part 1 - Digging the Pond - YouTube Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no This weeks' episode features Dr. Alan McCarthy of BirdWatch Ireland discussing Hen Harriers, their ecology, pressures facing these birds, conservation efforts for this species, and his PhD research on this enigmatic species. o277-4417-64ba560448d71 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Thu, 20 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000 0:52:01 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ This weeks' episode features Dr. Alan McCarthy of BirdWatch Ireland discussing Hen Harriers, their ecology, pressures facing these birds, conservation efforts for this species, and his PhD research on this enigmatic species. Alan's PhD research focused on both breeding and wintering aspects of Hen Harrier ecology in Ireland. Among other things, his research focused on Hen Harrier diet, their winter roost characteristics, as well as satellite tracking Hen Harriers tagged as nestlings, year-round. This latter portion of Alan's work provided information on how far young Hen Harriers disperse, their survival rates, the habitats they use and the age at which they begin breeding. Alan speaks eloquently about the pressures facing Hen Harriers, particularly afforestation of upland sites. Afforestation has resulted in declines in natural prey and causes Hen Harriers significant difficulty when hunting any available prey, in comparison to open landscapes. In addition, while Hen Harriers will nest in young conifer plantations, these habitats are predator rich, and predation of Hen Harrier nests is a significant pressure in these habitat types. Intensification of agricultural land has also led to a reduction in prey abundance at these sites, placing them under significant pressure both during the breeding and wintering seasons. Niall speaks about how measures to save the Hen Harrier benefit not only other species through habitat restoration, but can also benefit local economies through job creation. Bird of the Week is the Marsh Harrier, a species which is dependent on reedbed habitat and preys on species such as Coot, Teal and Common Frogs. In recent years the Marsh Harrier has returned to Ireland as a breeding species, with a handful of pairs breeding in Ireland. Marsh Harriers, like Hen Harriers and other harrier species, use sky dancing and food passes as part of their breeding display to reinforce the pair bond. In Your Nature features Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer with Offaly County Council in conversation with Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly, and Westmeath County Councils and the Heritage Council. Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no Niall and Ricky share with us their knowledge of the Curlew. o277-4417-64ba8b4c7413d sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Wed, 19 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000 0:38:53 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no This week, we interview BirdWatch Ireland breeding wader expert and born & bred callows woman Kathryn Finney, who gives us a great local insight. o277-4417-64ba9138b0a46 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Mon, 17 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000 0:40:09 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ This week, 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no In Your Nature returns with its first episode (of 6) planned for this summer season. o277-4417-64ba907432941 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Sun, 16 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000 0:41:07 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no 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. o277-4417-64ba8fb26422c sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Sat, 15 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000 0:47:46 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no 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. o277-4417-64ba8efd299e8 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Fri, 14 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000 0:46:03 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no In this episode we chat about the Common Buzzard. We discuss the recolonisation of the species across Ireland after a number of major historic setbacks. o277-4417-64ba8e363a04a sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Thu, 13 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000 0:41:10 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ In this episode we chat about the Common Buzzard. We discuss the recolonisation of the species across Ireland after a number of major historic setbacks. Despite its recent continued advance, Buzzards are still illegally targeted and killed. We talk Buzzard ecology and try to straighten-out some of the common misconceptions about the species. Species of the week is the Common (Ring-necked) Pheasant. 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 Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no In this episode Ricky and Niall chat all things nest boxes. o277-4417-64ba8c867e1a8 sarah@midlands103.com (Sarah Casserley) Tue, 11 Jul 2023 23:00:00 +0000 0:38:28 https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/in-your-nature/ In this episode Ricky and Niall chat all things nest boxes. We chat about how to provide good nest box accommodation for your garden birds, from how to build them, where to hang them and when to clean them. We also discuss nest boxes for Swifts and Barn Owls which are species of high conservation concern who can be helped by the provision of specialised nest boxes. The Species of the Week is the Blue Tit, a regular nest box resident and garden favourite. 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 AnnMarie Kelly Podcasts Tindle Radio no nature no