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Conor McKinney

@wildlifeni.bsky.social
604 followers 893 following 117 posts

Wildlife conservationist based in Northern Ireland, working to give wild things and places a voice. Founder of www.starlingecology.co.uk and www.wildbelfast.org.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Our new beer mats for the #Fleadh have been created and distributed throughout bars in #Belfast! Supported by #BelfastCityCouncil they celebrate the role our natural heritage has in Irish art. Our winning artists can be seen in Insta: @thelittlefiend @entropyial @clairtyart @caolmacdonaldartist
Pint afraid to be put on a beautiful artistic beer mat celebrating connection between Irish natural and cultural heritage. Winning images in the Wild Belfast brief to ask artists to celebrate connection between Irish natural and cultural heritage.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Check out our new "Living Mural" in #Cullybackey. Designed in partnership with local community celebrates the towns connection with River Main and includes Swift nesting bricks. In partnership with Alpha Housing and our wonderful artist can be found here www.instagram.com/wallartbyale...
Mural depicting wildlife of the River Main with embedded Swift bricks
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
#Belfast based artist?? We've launched a call to celebrate the connection of Irish natural & cultural heritage for #Fleadh2026! We're providing four winners the opportunity to win £350 and have their work distributed across the city during the Fleadh. And theres more! 🧵 ⤵️ The top 20..
Call for artwork to celebrate link between Irish cultural and natural heritage.Call for artwork to celebrate link between Irish cultural and natural heritage.Call for artwork to celebrate link between Irish cultural and natural heritage.
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Elaine Crory @elainecrory.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
View from the stage at the biggest anti-racism rally in Belfast yet
View from the stage shows a massive crowdAnother angle on the massive crowd
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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Also by Hannan: “the blue eyed sheiks” of Icelandic Banking will save us (2004). Brexit will be a huge success and we won’t leave the single market (2016) “Covid won’t kill you” (2020)
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Deeply concerned about #Belfast Councils ham fisted approach to new playing field strategy Not content with pitting sports provision against music, they now seem to be pitting it against biodiverse green infrastructure (GI). New pitches should contribute to new high quality GI, not degrade it.
News report showing conflict between outdoor music arena and pitch provisionNews report showing conflict between biodiverse green space and pitch provision
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Wild Belfast @wildbelfast.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
What a turnout, Belfast! Thanks to everyone who came down this evening to celebrate the starlings with us - our hearts are full 💚 Massive thanks to all that put time and effort into pulling off this event, and to @thisisdakota.bsky.social and @wildlifeni.bsky.social for leading it!
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Elly ☘️ @ellyj.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
I took this in March 2019. It’s amazing to see them back
A selection of 3 pics of a murmuration taken from a moving car at Albert Bridge Belfast March 2018 at around 6pm. The pics show a city skyline with the sky beginning to darken and a cloud of starlings preparing to roost
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Richard Troupe @richardtroupe.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
This sight is genuinely one of the experiences I recommend any visitor to Belfast to take in if they can. It's beautiful to watch.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Did you see #winterwatch last night? Belfast's starling murmuration took centre stage to the delight of audiences across the UK and those watching at Belfast itself. But did you know we nearly lost it..?
Starling murmuration at Belfast (photo by Dulra)
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Shauna Corr @shaunacorr.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Wild Belfast, Queen’s University planners and some in the council hope to make Belfast the first national park city on the island of Ireland… A series of public conversations kick off this evening in the city centre. Find out more here 👇 open.substack.com/pub/theearth...
open.substack.com
Belfast becoming a national park city could ‘bring people together’ says Wild Belfast founder
A new campaign to make Belfast the first national park city on the island of Ireland could be just the thing to bring “people together” rather than “tearing them apart” says Wild Belfast founder, Cono...
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
What can we celebrate already as a city? Where can we do better? #WhatIf #BelfastNationalParkCity
What is happening already?

Community Gardens,

Wildflower alleys,

Pop up community hubs,

Urban gardens. What would you like to see?

Responses include new green space, sustainable drainage systems, new habitats, new native woodland.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Our #Belfast #NationalParkCity workshop is well underway. Attendees are writing a postcard to themselves from 2050. They've been asked: 1) What do you see? 2) What's changed locally? 3) Who's here, and what's their r'ship with nature? 4) How do you feel living here? What would you say?
Picture of people at community meeting imagining their connection with Belfast.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Thanks to Slugger O'Toole for allowing me to write about the joyful insurgency taking place here in Belfast to explore the idea of Belfast becoming a National Park City and the power of asking "What if". You can check it out here: sluggerotoole.com/2025/10/18/w...
sluggerotoole.com
What if Belfast was a National Park City?
Conor McKinney is the founder of Wild Belfast and a local wildlife activist / conservationist; What if? is a powerful question. In a time of myriad health, climate, ecological and social crises it can...
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
This Robin has developed camouflage.
Robin in an apple tree
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
Typically a univoltine species (i.e one flight season April to June) in Northern Ireland the Holly Blue butterfly, a protected species, has developed a second flight season, likely due to our warming climate. This one was seen outside its typically associated flight season in Garvagh yesterday.
Holly blue butterfly on brambleHolly blue butterfly on bramble
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The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
The media propensity to run "police probe [cultural figure x]" stories is corrosive to our polity. Few if any of these probes get anywhere, but the No Further Actions never get similar prominence. And what lingers are the police interventions, as if such activity is normal and to be expected.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
We need more urban green infrastructure. Every development using private or public funds should be required to include it. European heatwave caused 2,300 deaths in 10 days: www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/...
share.google
European heatwave caused 2,300 deaths in 10 days, study finds
Researchers find human-caused climate change raised temperatures by up to 4C, with 1,500 deaths linked directly to it.
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Ulster Museum @ulstermuseum.org · 04/07/2025
Did you ever wonder where all the starlings went at the Lagan Bridge? Wild Belfast member Dawn re-tells the beautiful and poignant story of the murmurations disappearance, and return. Article by @wildlifeni.bsky.social → bit.ly/3ZQ9Rx2 #Murmurations #WildIreland
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Digitising our workshop on how we make Belfast a National Park City - outcomes en route! Fab contributions so far: - We're a confluence of past and future - Make natural heritage last as long as built heritage - Make gardens a public good Get involved - email contact@wildbelfast.org.
Outputs of workshop from National Park Cities.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
As the OEP outline the importance of protecting wildlife at a local level, and the value of local wildlife sites in doing so, councils across Northern Ireland are showing no ambition in Local Development Plans to zone new sites, or are revoking them entirely. www.theoep.org.uk/report/local...
theoep.org.uk
Local nature recovery has an important part to play in helping government deliver its ‘win-win’ for the environment and economic growth, says OEP report | Office for Environmental Protection
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
We're taking our exploration of #Belfast as a National Park City into one of Belfast's best loved meanwhile sites. I'll be joined in discussion with our host Gawain as well as Perla from Sustrans and Lizzy from Belfast Hills to explore a National Park City, what to celebrate and how we can do more
Aerial of Brink site with city reimagined as being greener with title Belfast National Park CityTitle Belfast National Park City with agenda and running order for the day.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Whenever they come crocodile-tearing at your doorsteps, remember this. This action plan was to address water quality issues affecting Lough Neagh and beyond, their political cowardice compounds the issue. #DUP #UUP #TUV #SINNFEIN
Dup motion to scrap Nutrients Action Plan carried by 52 votes to 23DUP motion to scrap Nutrients Action Plan carried by UUP, TUV and Sinn fein 👀
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Ulster Museum @ulstermuseum.org · 09/06/2025
“Where did all the starlings go?” This was the question Lagan rower Dawn Patterson brought to Wild Belfast. Watch as Dawn re-tells the beautiful and poignant story of the murmurations disappearance, and return. Article by @wildlifeni.bsky.social → bit.ly/3ZQ9Rx2 #Murmurations #WildIreland
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Meadow restoration taking shape at PEC in Botanic Gardens. These are what traditional grasslands would have looked, smelt and buzzed like. Bravo to upsurge project, Belfast City Council and partners. Let's see more of this 👏🦋🐝🐞
Urban species rich grassland in process of being restored.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
It's #worldswiftday and I'd like to share a story with you about our swift mural. Equipped with a solar powered caller to attract swifts to the nesting bricks, we had one issue - how to turn the caller on (>10m high) once the swifts arrived?
Wild Belfast mural celebrating and supporting swiftsSolar powered swift caller
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Join us at Queen's University on Tuesday 10th June from 10am for a discussion reflecting what if we treated Belfast like a National Park. We'll hear from an array of experts and muse how Belfast can be better for us and biodiversity. Register here: lnkd.in/evrHtZGs
Belfast reimagined with natureNational Park City conference agenda with list of international and local expertsNational Park City charter
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
Remember to register for the Planning at Queen's University Belfast and Wild Belfast conference asking "What if Belfast was a National Park City?" E.g. what if schools and universities offered nature rich green infrastructure to encourage ecological awareness and an asset for communities?
Graphic of QUB with nature rich green space
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IPBES @ipbes.net · 21/05/2025
🗞️Authors from the @ipbes.net #InvasiveAlienSpecies Report have published the Global Impacts Dataset of Invasive Alien Species derived from the report, creating a global resource for investigating and managing the impacts of invasive alien species. 🌍🧪 Read more in ‪@nature.com‬ bit.ly/43APoP7
An image of two lionfish. Overlay text reads: Major New Resource, Global Impacts Dataset of Invasive Alien Species
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
What if Belfast was a National Park City? After last year's "Making Space for Nature' conference that's the question we'll be exploring in our next conference on the 10th June with Planning at Queen's University Belfast. What if we had better access to green space?
National park cities flyer
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
We're calling for more sites to be zoned to protect nature by Belfast City Council. We have international ambitions to protect and manage 30% of our land & seas by 2030, why isn't this percolating through to how we approach planning? m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environ...
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Calls for Belfast planning changes after blunder that spoiled starling spectacle: ‘It created Las Vegas under the bridge’
An environmental group has urged Belfast City Council to help protect local landmarks as areas of conservational importance in future planning applications.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Belfast is taking part again in the #CityNatureChallenge! We want to put Belfast as high up the global league table and assert our position as a hot-spot for ecological recording. Get involved - all you need is your phone and appropriate clothing ⏬🐝 www.inaturalist.org/projects/cit...
Flyer City Nature Challenge Belfast 25th April to 28th April
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
My take on the parakeets in the Waterworks story. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Disloyal boyfriend meme
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
We've submitted our consultation for the extension of opening hours (with most of the heavy lifting done by the fab Erin Mckeown). In principle Belfast City Council have our support, we can't expect people to care for nature if they can't access nature. But here's what we're calling for:
People cycling along river
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
There's no reason for Labours toryesque behaviour. Developing with nature creates better, more climate resilient schemes. Accreditation schemes such as Building with Nature exist that orientate schemes to produce high quality #GreenInfrastruture. Mandate it. www.buildingwithnature.org.uk
buildingwithnature.org.uk
Building with Nature
This is the website of Building with Nature. We provide developers with information about adding green infrastructure into their development projects and assess this through an award scheme. Promoting...
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Craig Bennett @craigbennett3.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
This👇 is how it should be done We need changes to the #PlanningBill to make developments like this the norm rather than the exception www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘People love being here’: London development shows harmony between nature and housing
Five thousand new homes alongside a paradise for newts appears to fly in face of government’s ‘false wedge’
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Talking about the importance of our urban green spaces today with the BBC. These spaces are the foundations of our urban biosphere. We must manage them better for biodiversity. We aspire to manage 30% of the planet for biodiversity by 2030 but where is the ambition to renature our public estate?
Filming at Lagan Meadows discussing importance of green spaces for urban biodiversity.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
YELLOW RATTLE!!!! First year in new urban house and this is a fine sign that the l(y)awn is diversifying. Tense next couple of weeks to see if more establishes 🤞
Yellow rattle seedling
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Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
WILFRID THE CUCKOO IS IN GUINEA
A map of Africa, with Wilfrid’s progress marked by a green line and a tag labelled “Wi”. He came down the west coast before darting inland to Mali then south east to Angola, where he spent most of the winter. He started his UK-ward return migration a week ago and is now in Guinea, in the southern part of West Africa.A photograph of Wilfrid the cuckoo. He is grey, with grey/white barring on his chest, an orange eye, orange/yellow eye ring, and orange tinges on beak and mouth.
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David Dunlop @lawt-d.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
I've just nominated Wild Belfast @wildlifeni.bsky.social animal.movementforgood.com/index.php?cn... @wildlifeni.bsky.social
animal.movementforgood.com
I just nominated a charity to win £5,000. You can nominate your favourite too.
I just nominated a charity to win £5,000..
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Hiya folks! We are organising a campaign to win £5k for Wild Belfast. £5k would be a huge deal for us - in 5 seconds you could help us pay for our core costs for *5 years*. Can you nominate us (see link below - closing date 23rd Feb). Thank you ❤️💙💚 animal.movementforgood.com/index.php?cn...
Flyer requesting viewer to nominate Wild Belfast for a draw of £5k with marine background. Flyer requesting viewer to nominate Wild Belfast for a draw of £5k with terrestrial background.
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claireburgoyne.bsky.social @claireburgoyne.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
So positive to hear Tim Smit from the Eden Project in conversation with @wildlifeni.bsky.social @niscifest.bsky.social talking about the potential of Belfast, all in the beautiful surroundings of the Elmwood Hall @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social
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The Global Shorelines project @comshorelines.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Reposting favourite coastal shots shared with the Global Shorelines project over the last 5 years. Mull. @iolowilliams.bsky.social Orphir, Orkney. Matt Tebbutt White Park Bay, Co Antrim. @edwardpollard.bsky.social Village Bay, St Kilda. @wildlifeni.bsky.social Maybe share a coast you love.
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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
How different birds would act on a first date...a thread. (From us to you this #ValentinesDay) 💕👇
A playful illustrated title reads “How different birds would act on a first date." A disclaimer underneath states: “Not approved by RSPB fact-checkers.” The image features a cute Coal Tit perched sweetly on a blue flower. The background is a romantic shade of pink.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Tonight as part of #NISF25 Late Late Love Lab I'm discussing queerness in wildlife. We'll discuss our polysexual, polygender world and show how nature is not only queerer than we suppose but is queerer than we can suppose. nisciencefestival.com/events/late-...
nisciencefestival.com
Late Late Love Lab | NI Science Festival
With over 180 events across 50+ venues, the NI Science Festival offers a stimulating and wide range of events focusing on the wonders of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Join us on the 16 February in Victoria Park to learn about the wintering birds there! Book a free ticket at www.wildbelfast.org/events-1/win...
Wintering Bird ID flyer - 16th Feb 1230 at Victoria Park
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
On the Lagan with @barrabest.bsky.social today telling the story of the return of Belfast's starling murmuration at Albert Bridge. You'll see more of us on Barra’s Return of the Wild.
Barra Best and Conor McKinney on the Lagan talking about the return of the starling murmuration.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
It's becoming increasingly apparent that Idiocracy is a before it's time documentary. www.bbc.com/news/live/cl...
bbc.com
Palestinians, Egypt, UK and others condemn Trump's plans for US takeover of Gaza - live updates
The US president says he wants the US to take
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Fair play to the Belfast Cycle Campaign and @sustrans.bsky.social for calling the Department for Infrastructure out on this. DfI have been a law onto themselves for too long dodging difficult decisions on active transport. Hopefully this will signal a step change. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Department for Infrastructure 'not delivering' on active travel targets
Campaign groups in Northern Ireland accuse the DfI of spending active travel budget money on ineffective schemes.
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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
I'm taking part in a Conversations event with QUB on nature in the city. For instance, Belfast has a road map to protect 30% of its area for biodiversity by 2030. To meet it depends on how they manage their green spaces, see alt txt & come along for more info. docs.google.com/forms/d/1Z6f...
Map showing that 20% of Belfast's footprint is currently zoned as a SLNCI, or designated as a priority or protected habitat. Belfast's green spaces make up 12% of the areas footprint and a further expanse of priority habitat remains unprotected. Addressing these issues offers Belfast a roadmap to protecting 30% of its landscape by 2030.
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