RTÉ - Mooney Goes Wild

There is much more to mayflies than might meet the eye. They are a source of wonder and fascination for our fisheries scientist Dr Ken Whelan. He joins Richard and Derek to talk about his upcoming documentary on the Mayfly which will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 at 15:00 on Bank Holiday Monday (August 4th).

Native to the waters of the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans, Pink Salmon are not supposed to be present in Ireland. However, this invasive species has been spreading in the North Atlantic and has reached Ireland. Dr. Ken Whelan discusses their impact.

The remote island of Skellig Michael – nó Sceilg Mhichíl as Gaeilge – is a truly magical place. While the monks (and jedis) may be long gone from the island, it still teams with life, particularly seabirds like the Puffin. Niall recently visited the famous monastic settlement and tells us all about the experience.

We recently reported on a male Cuckoo that was in the habit of adding an extra note into its song: instead of singing “cuck-oo”, it was singing “cuck-oo-oo”. This prompted listener Pierce Ryan to get in touch with us to proffer his own theory. On tonight's programme, we investigate.

Do the Cuckoos of today still sound the same as the Cuckoos of the past? Well, yes, they do. An ancient musical composition from 1250 named 'Sumer is icumen in' features a vocal representation of a Cuckoo. Ian Pittaway, accomplished singer and expert in early music, speaks to us about the song and gives us his rendition.

Are you looking to relax, unwind and immerse yourself in one of the most spectacular phenomena that the natural world has to offer? If so, it's time to set your ears free and relive the magic of Mooney Goes Wild's seven-hour live broadcast of the Dawn Chorus.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Vera Lynn once sang about the Nightingale, and while they may no longer sing in Berkeley Square, they certainly do still sing in the south of France. As Niall tells us, they are actually still fairly common there and he has a recording to share.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For tonight's programme, Niall Hatch joins us from the delightful town of Mandelieu-La Napoule on the French Riviera, close to Cannes. Niall is on the lookout for butterflies (with France home to around 250 types), birds and moths such as the Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Ónagh Kelly recently sent us a recording of a very striking bird sound captured in Phoenix Park. It was none other than the territorial “drumming” sound of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Ónagh joins us to talk about the various birds that frequent the iconic park.

Eric Dempsey has sent us a report for tonight's programme all about a bird that happens to share his deep interest in moths: the Cuckoo. Eric happened to be out and about in the Midlands recently and heard one singing, and thankfully he managed to record it for us.

Lys Duff, one of our loyal listeners, sent us a lovely email recently with several photos attached of the rare Lime Hawk-moth. Needing further investigation, naturally we sent Terry Flanagan off and he spoke with lepidopterist Jesmond Harding.

The new Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway has become a haven for wildlife in the heart of our capital city. On a recent sunny morning, we dispatched the inimitable Éanna Ni Lamhna to meet with Eamon McElroy, Port Engineer with Dublin Port Company, to find out more.

A quick reminder that National Biodiversity Week is currently underway, running this year from May 16th to 25th. Catherine O'Toole, Development Officer with the Irish Environmental Network, tells us more.

We do hope you tuned into our mammoth Dawn Chorus coverage over the weekend. If not, you can listen back on the player. Tonight, we give you another airing of Jim Wilson's documentary on Harper's Island Wetlands.

In this special edition of Nature on One, celebrating thirty years of Mooney Goes Wild, Colm Flynn meets the people behind the voices and revisits some of the moments that made this nature programme a household favourite.

First up on tonight's programme, our panel looks forward to one of the biggest and most anticipated natural history broadcasting events of the year: our annual Dawn Chorus Live programme. This year, our live broadcast will take place on Sunday May 4th from midnight through to 7am on both Radio 1 and Lyric FM.

We recently had an email from Alan Phelan in Portlaoise. He was surprised to come across a pair of pigeons nesting on his windowsill. Fascinated with their behaviour, Alan contacted the show and we sent roving reporter Terry Flanagan down to investigate.

Sadly, the once-abundant Curlew is one of Ireland's fastest declining and most threatened breeding bird species. Hope is not yet lost though with ambitious conservation projects underway, including a technique called headstarting. Éanna travelled to Fota Island to speak to Declan O'Donovan, Animal Care Manager at Fota Wildlife Park, to learn more.

Would you believe that next month Mooney Goes Wild will celebrate 30 years on air?! To celebrate this landmark occasion, our good friend and acclaimed documentary-maker Colm Flynn has crafted a special documentary programme all about the show. It will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio One at 15:00 on Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May.

We finish tonight's programme with a preview of the dawn chorus, to give you an idea of what to expect during our seven-hour live broadcast on Sunday 4th May. It promises to be another great programme, with lots of beautiful birdsong, expert commentary and fascinating insights into the avian world.

Niall has travelled far from Greystones for this week's episode as he dialls in from Egypt!

Derek recorded a Robin singing outside his home, putting us all in the mood for the Dawn Chorus which is only two weeks away.