The Bird Observatory lies off the County Down coast of Northern Ireland at the southern side of the mouth of Belfast Lough. It is one of the British Bird Observatories and is directed and serviced by the British Trust for Ornithology BTO. Its main aim is the collection of data on migratory and breeding birds, which may be used for their general conservation. It is operated on a part-time basis by local amateur ornithologists.

The Observatory is based on Light House Island, part of the Copeland Group, which lie just to the south of the mouth of Belfast Lough. The other islands in the group are Mew Island, just to the east of Light House Island, and Big Copeland, a much larger island about 1 km south of the other two.

Access from the Northern Ireland mainland is by small boat from the harbour at Donaghadee.