Hop to the Irish Peatland Conservation Council website if you want to join the Irish Frog Survey (to record the earliest dates for frog-spawn in your area) or find out about events such as the bog explorer day to Ballynafagh Bog in Kildare on Sunday. Do you have difficulty identifying garden birds? Would you like to know what dragonfly you are looking at - or the plants of bogs or sand dunes? Shop online for the Field Studies Council's Identification Charts. The Irish Peatland Conservation Council site also provides news, campaigns, community events, and education services, at www.ipcc.ie
Ireland's most famous birds, Jackie and Daw, are back on webcam at the award-winning website of Wild Ireland, which offers "everything you need to know about Irish wildlife", including a species database, discussion forum, a shop and a guide to outings in the countryside. Subscribe online to the Wild Ireland magazine, with articles on topics such as birds of prey and bats, or download screensavers at www.wildireland.ie
Bird lovers can learn all about Irish birds, reserves and keep up to date with the latest rare-bird news and projects, such as the Garden BirdWatch, and join BirdWatch Ireland or shop online at www.birdwatchireland.ie Find out about the "grim fate" of the Irish badger and check out links to Irish wildlife and rescue groups, such as the Tortoise Sanctuary, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and the Galway Swan and Wildlife Rescue, at the Irish Animals on the Web site. Also, get information on animal rights, pet quarantine and how to locate pet-friendly holidays. All at www.irishanimals.com
Thousands of wild animals die on our roads every year, but a small plastic device that emits ultrasound waves to alert animals to danger could change this, according to the FoxWatchIreland website. Find out how to buy it, and learn about observing foxes and how to make your rubbish animal-friendly at http://homepage.eircom.net/foxwatchireland
"Act now" in your area to protect wildlife, says WildWatch, the website of the Irish Wildlife Trust. Giving advice on what to do if you see hedgerow cutting (it is prohibited from April 15th to the end of August to allow breeding birds to nest), badger baiting (contact Badgerwatch) and the best way of keeping an eye on areas of special conservation, the site also provides a discussion forum and information on wildlife gardening. It's at www.iwt.ie
smarriott@irish-times.ie
