Mooney Goes Wild

Have you ever encountered an insect portrait photographer? One such person is Dr. Lisa Clancy, whose book 'Insect Portraits: Capturing the personality of (mostly) Irish insects' has just been published by Mayo Books Press. Lisa speaks to Éanna Ní Lamhna about these vital, fascinating and often misunderstood invertebrates.

Donegal is a haven for nature, especially birds. A new book published by Cork University Press is bringing that rich birdlife to new audiences. 'The Birds of County Donegal' is the work of legendary local ornithologist Ralph Sheppard. Eric Dempsey recently attended the launch of the book in beautiful Glenveagh National Park where he met Ralph.

The White-tailed Eagle was widespread in Ireland before extinction in the nineteenth century. An ambitious reintroduction project began in 2007 and these magnificent birds are breeding here once more. Christopher O’Sullivan, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, has travelled to Norway to oversee collecting more chicks.

We received an email last week from Sabina Davitt, who attached a recording made by her son who lives in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The recording features several drawn-out squeals from Long-eared Owl chicks.

Last week, Gerry Creighton (former Operations Manager at Dublin Zoo) popped into the studio to chat to Derek and Richard about the challenges of managing elephants in captivity, the conservation pressures that these massive mammals face in the wild and how to reduce conflicts between humans and elephants.

Can nature teach human beings a thing or two about living together? 'To Have or To Hold: Nature’s Hidden Relationships' is the latest book by science communicator Sophie Pavelle and she spoke to Éanna about it.

The team answer queries about Cuckoos, Woodpeckers and Niall has to guess a bird's song.

Lying off the Causeway Coast of Co. Antrim, Rathlin Island is famed for its rugged landscape, breathtaking views and rich flora and fauna. Niall paid a visit to Rathlin Island in order to find out more about its captivating natural history.

To finish tonight’s programme, we thought we would share with you a truly beautiful and deeply moving account of a chance encounter with a Blackbird that was sent to us by listener Nuala McLoughlin.

A new study has revealed how the loss of experienced individual elephants from their social groups stops the knowledge transfer between generations. Dr Lucy Bates (who led the research) from the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, explains.

Ireland is home to some very rare native plants, and one of the rarest and hardest to find of all is the Burrowing Clover. Wicklow-based naturalist and author Declan Murphy met up with Terry Flanagan on the banks of the River Vartry to find it.

Cliodhna Kellegher from Banagher, Co. Offaly, got in touch with us to tell us about an unusual occurrence where a resident pair of Robins have taken a real fancy to the slug pellets that she puts out.

Listener Ann Gethings kindly sent us a recording made by her brother Marc on his farm in Killaughrim in Caim, Co. Wexford. Marc’s recording features the unmistakable sounds of a male Cuckoo in song . . . but was this Cuckoo late?

Were you one of the thousands of people who attended Bord Bia Bloom over the June Bank Holiday period? Derek and the team were there to bring you a very special live edition of Mooney Goes Wild. Here's one of the highlights: Niall Hatch gives five fantastic facts about feathered friends in five minutes!

It's a special live programme this Bank Holiday Monday as the Mooney Goes Wild team broadcasts from Bloom at Dublin's Phoenix Park.

On this Bank Holiday Monday, enjoy a repeat of this special documentary celebrating 30 years of Mooney Goes Wild, presented by Colm Flynn.

Last week, the very sad news reached us that Michael O’Meara, a luminary in the world of Irish wildlife and a wonderful chronicler and custodian of the flora and fauna of Co. Waterford, had died. Éanna pays tribute.

We know that a great many of you happen to have a fear of spiders, so you might not be thrilled to learn that Ireland now has “zombie spiders” to contend with! Found living in a cave between Cavan and Fermanagh, speleologists Tim and Pam Fogg are the husband-and-wife team who first discovered them so Michele Browne went to meet them.

Waders are amongst the most threatened breeding species in Ireland. Serious conservation work is underway to support them including The Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership. Terry Flanagan travelled to the shores of Lough Ree to speak to Owen Murphy, Senior Project Manager with the EIP, and Nest Protection Officer Dana Neill.

Recently, we received an email from Rosaleen Bourke in Bellharbour, Co. Clare, about a rare sighting of a Hazel Dormouse in that part of Ireland. We talk about the newest rodents to call Ireland home, how they differ from “true” mice, and whether their spread across Ireland will continue.