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Derek Mooney and guests explore the natural world in all its forms. Listen live every Monday at 10pm on RTÉ Radio 1.
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Individually, Starlings are small, dark birds that at first glance don’t seem particularly special. But when they gather together in massive flocks on winter evenings to perform their aerial ballet, it’s quite a different matter! Tonight, our panel discuss the phenomenon of Starling murmurations.
Currently underway, having returned for its seventh year, is Samhain agus Science, an annual science festival organised by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS). Roving reporter Terry Flanagan spoke to Prof. Chris Bean of DIAS.
A recent study by botanists at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in the UK has identified 33 “dark spots” around the world where it is believed thousands of plant species are still waiting to be discovered. Éanna Ní Lamhna spoke to our good friend Dr. Matthew Jebb, Director of the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin in Dublin.
For the first time, researchers have provided direct evidence of the role of gut health in wild populations of birds. Researchers at University College Cork recently published their findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Lead researcher Shane Somers joins us on the show.
Storm Ashley impacted a great many people across Ireland, but did you know that it also had a remarkable impact on seabirds? Great Shearwaters were seen in unprecedented numbers off the Kerry coast as they took shelter from the storm in Tralee Bay.
Niall is just back from the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. He was there on behalf of BirdWatch Ireland to attend the organisation’s Partnership Meeting for its European and Central Asian region. 45 other BirdLife International partners were also in attendance to discuss conservation strategies, international collaborations and more.
Richard was recently in Manchester to visit the Manchester Museum. He was there to see a very special painting by Heywood Hardy called 'The Disputed Toll', which also happens to be the name of a documentary Richard is making for this Christmas. The toll in question was a fascinating elephant called Maharajah.
While Richard was in Manchester, he came upon a story about how a vending machine to dispense food for ducks was to be installed at Burrs Country Park by a local community action group.
Next Saturday (25th October) sees a major conference take place in Teagasc Oak Park in Carlow. Entitled 'Future Plant Health Responders', it will deal with topics such as climate-driven pests and pathogens, crop protection and more. Terry Flanagan met with Dr. Aisling Moffet, founder of Entosoc, and Dr. Anna Tiely, chairperson of SIPP.
As part of our popular Nature on One series, on Bank Holiday Monday (28th October) we will bring you 'The Extraordinary Tale of the White Prominent' which is presented by naturalist and author Eric Dempsey. We have a sneak preview of it for you.
As part of our popular Nature on One series, on Bank Holiday Monday 28th October we will be bring you 'The Extraordinary Tale of the White Prominent '. Presented by naturalist and author Eric Dempsey, it follows his quest to track down one of our rarest insects.
With a name like Mute Swan, you would be forgiven for thinking that Ireland’s heaviest bird species was completely silent. Far from it, however: although not as vocal as our other two swan species, Mute Swans nonetheless utter a wide range of hisses, grunts and whistles. Richard Collins has been down to Dublin's Fairview Park to find some.
Amateur naturalist and photographer Gustavo Zoladz is originally from Argentina, but has been living and working in Dublin for several years now. Gustavo tracks down and takes stunning photographs of wild animals within our capital city. Terry Flanagan joined Gustavo recently as they observed the Red Fox.
Niall has recently returned from a trip to Tuscany, Italy where, between searching for wildlife and consuming his own body weight in pasta and gelato, he found time to visit the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral, better known to almost everyone as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Eoghan Daltun is a sculpture conservator, farmer, author and, above all, rewilder. His latest book is called The Magic of An Irish Rainforest: A Visual Journey and follows his travels across the length and breadth of Ireland to photograph surviving areas of temperate rainforest.
Derek is joined by Richard Collins & Éanna Ní Lamhna. We discover the Angle Shades moth, a highly camouflaged, almost army fatigue-patterned moth.
The Angle Shades moth is a highly camouflaged, almost army fatigue-patterned moth. It is a common and widespread species across Ireland that can be seen most readily during the months of autumn.
We are joined by butterfly expert Jesmond Harding, author of The Irish Butterfly Book: A Complete Guide to the Butterflies of Ireland.
Valentia Bee Beds is a new business venture by beekeepers Paul O’Neill and Anton Tovarnitskyi which gives customers the opportunity to lie on special beds containing genuine bee hives. Michele Browne travels to Valentia and finds out about the beneficial health effects of the bee beds.
Derek is joined by Richard Collins while Niall Hatch reports from the town of Mandelieu-La Napoule in southern France seeking out the European Bee-eater; Marc Holderied, Professor of Sensory Biology at the University of Bristol, tells us about moths; and Terry Flanagan visits the farm of Kieran Morley's where he rears snails.
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