RTÉ - Mooney Goes Wild

Derek and Niall discuss how we can identify different species through their distinctive features and calls, and we answer some of your questions.

Last month, the town of Dungarvan celebrated the unveiling of Crockery Mountain, a 45 foot wide mosaic made from donated cups, plates, bowls and mugs. It was created to encourage sustainability and avoid waste. Terry Flanagan had to pay a visit and he speaks to the artist, Sean Corcoran.

In the human world, we know that friendships are important. But a recent report in 'Proceedings of the Royal Society B', show that friendship is an important bond for gorillas studied in Rwanda. One of its authors, Victoire Martignac, tells us more.

Over the course of the summer, we received lots of positive emails from listeners about improved butterfly numbers. Terry Flanagan met lepidopterist Jesmond Harding of Butterfly Conservation Ireland to find out whether our optimism this year is justified.

Global Action Plan is an environmental charity that guides people on a journey of discovery to reconnect us with nature and with one another. Terry Flanagan, met with Hans Zomer, CEO of GAP, and Niamh Ní Iceadha, the charity's Education Officer, in the organisation's Ballymun GLAS gardens, where they outlined some of their initiatives.

BirdWatch Ireland is Ireland's largest wildlife conservation charity, with a nationwide membership of over 15,000. Those members all receive Wings, the NGO's main membership magazine, and the children's edition, Bird Detectives. Niall Hatch takes us through the key issues in both magazines this summer.

Ireland's historic Royal Canal, originally built in the late 1700s, is now home to the longest Greenway in the country which extends from Dublin to Longford. Author Tom Dredge speaks to Éanna Ní Lamhna about his new book about the waterway, 'Rambling Along the Royal Canal: A Journey into the Heart of Ireland.'

Among her many credits, Éanna Ní Lamhna is a celebrated and prolific natural history author, with many books under her belt. One of the most popular of those books is 'Wild Dublin – Exploring Nature in the City', which was first published in 2008. Excitingly, Éanna tells us that an updated second edition will soon be published.

Two of the most popular urban-dwelling creatures you may encounter at home or during your commute are the Red Fox and the Sparrowhawk. These two species just so happen to be the subjects of one of Ireland's largest street art projects at the Aviva Stadium. Terry, Richard and Niall decided to take a DART to the area to investigate.

Ornithologist, author and regular contributor Eric Dempsey has had Sparrowhawks on his mind too. In recent days, a newly fledged hawk has taken up residence close to his house in Co. Wicklow and has literally been screaming loudly for its parents to bring it food.

Brendan Fitzpatrick sent a voice note to tell us about an interesting music festival. This summer, Co. Wicklow is alive with the sound of Ancient Music in the Forest, a festival celebrating ancient, traditional and early music in the natural forest amphitheatre at Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary, Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow.

Tonight's episode of Mooney Goes Wild is a bit different. We decided to send Terry Flanagan and Niall Hatch off on a very special mission...to travel to Rathfarnham in Dublin and get up close and personal with the nocturnal Irish predators that visit Martin's back garden.

Breda Kelly wrote to us recently about her garden in Ballinteer, Dublin. She has a diverse garden... but apparently a total lack of bees. In fact, she notes that all other insects are “as rare as hen's teeth” in her garden. Our panellists discuss.

While Breda may be lacking insects around her home, Niall tells us that he has the opposite problem at the moment: Common Wasps are nesting in a cavity below the front door of his house.

A recent development has turned much of what scientists believed about the origin of feathers on its head. We are delighted to speak with Prof. Maria McNamara and Dr Valentina Rossi from UCC's School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences about an amazing fossil discovery in France.

While at the Global Birdfair in Rutland, England, Niall was delighted to bump into a good friend of ours here at Mooney Goes Wild: Dr Seán McCormack. Niall spoke to Seán about the Ealing Beaver Project at the wonderfully named Paradise Fields, and the 'gay icon' Peregrine Falcons at Ealing Hospital.

The forests of Britain and Ireland not only fuelled their indigenous populations, but also the Romans, Anglo Saxons, Vikings and Normans. Tonight, Éanna chats to biologist Jonathan Mullard, who is the author of a recently published book entitled 'Forgotten Forests: Twelve Thousand Years of British and Irish Woodlands'

There is much more to mayflies than might meet the eye. They are fascinating creatures with a complex lifecycle that is largely hidden from human eyes. Regular contributor Dr Ken Whelan has made a special documentary on them which went out on August 4th and can be heard on the website.

The Flapper Skate is the largest species of skate in the world, clocking in at up to 2.5 metres in length. Sadly, they have been classified globally as “critically endangered”. In May, two Flapper Skates washed ashore in Co. Mayo and Louise Overy, Wildlife Biology Lecturer at Munster Technical University, was able to study it.

From August 29- 31 2025, the International Conference on Basking Sharks will take place at Atlantic Technological University in Galway. Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish Basking Shark Group looks forward to the conference and tells us more about the amazing Basking Shark, which is the second-largest species of fish in the world.

Every July, the English county of Rutland plays host to the Global Birdfair, the world's largest annual celebration of birds. Naturally, Niall Hatch was in attendance and is here to tell us more about the event and play some interviews he did with Ryan Chenery and Chandika Jayaratne.

Finally on tonight's programme, Karla Goodman gives us an update on Garrylucas Marsh (also known as Kilcolman Bog) in West Cork, which featured in our colleague Michele Browne's Custodians of Ireland series on RTÉ Radio One.

Ken Whelan brings us worrying news about two recent oil spills in Laois and Dublin that have caused pollution.

Sarah wishes her 87-year-old father, a longtime listener of Mooney Goes Wild and birdwatcher, happy birthday.

We recently received an email from Joan Mulvany in West Cork, and it contained videos of a mother and baby bat. The panel discuss bats in Ireland before Terry's report on a Bat Hospital in Limerick, run by Susan Kirwan

Ash Dieback Disease has become a significant blight on the tree and is affecting supply for hurleys. However, research from Kew Gardens may give hope. Éanna speaks to Professor Richard Buggs, Senior Research Leader at Kew Gardens.

When Derek was a child, he remembers hurleys made from plastic. Tonight, he's rediscovered an RTÉ report from 1977 on the unusual alternative to the traditional ash stick.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. In his 1936 short story 'The Snows of Kilimanjaro', Ernest Hemmingway recalled the frozen carcass of a Leopard discovered near its peak. Tonight, Richard ponders what caused this particular big cat to venture so high?

Terry, Richard and Niall pit their wits in Mooney's Wheel of Wildlife. Tune in for some fascinating facts about some of the most intriguing species in the world.

Offshore wind farms play an increasing role in Ireland's transition to a zero-carbon economy. But what effect do they have on wildlife? The ESB has developed a dedicated Marine Mammal Observer programme and Terry Flanagan went to meet Jo Green (observer) and Niru Dorrian (Senior Ecology Co-ordinator) in Dublin Bay.

Once brought to the very edge of extinction by the effects of a notorious pesticide, the Peregrine Falcon has staged a remarkable comeback. Ornithologist Jim Wilson has been filming the comings and goings of a pair of Peregrine Falcons currently nesting high on Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork City.

We are big fans of Ecolution, RTÉ's dedicated podcast about nature and climate action for children and young people presented by 17-year-old Evie Kenny. To celebrate its upcoming 100th episode, we are joined by its producer Nicky Coghlan.

The Carlow Garden Festival will run from Saturday 26th July to Sunday 3rd August at various locations along the Carlow Garden Trail. Eileen O'Rourke of Carlow Tourism tells us what to look forward to.

Abbeyleix Bog in Co. Laois is a natural gem, teeming with flora and fauna and a wonderful trail system. Having been rescued from destruction 25 years ago, there will be a celebratory Abbeyleix Bog Festival from July 24th to 27th.

Perhaps the most striking thing about a Magpie is its very long tail, which makes these black-and-white members of the crow family instantly identifiable. But recently, Derek spotted one on the RTÉ campus completely lacking tail feathers. What could have caused it to lose its tail, and will it be OK?

The Dunlin is a small wading bird which formerly bred in good numbers along Ireland's west and northern coasts, but has declined by more than 90% in recent years. Efforts are underway to stem this sharp decline and we speak to Jess Hodnett, a Ranger at Fota Wildlife Park and a member of the Dunlin headstarting team.

For the past 20 years, Terry Flanagan has kept a piece of amber in his pocket at all times. This golden pebble of ancient, fossilised tree resin was a gift from his wife Angela, and he is never without it. On tonight's programme, we chat about amber, its unusual properties and what it can reveal about the biological history of our planet.

The Great Irish Fossil Hunt is a new campaign run by the Science Department in University College Cork to encourage the Irish public to find fossils and to submit photographs of their discoveries. Terry Flanagan travelled to Co. Tipperary to view fossils with Maria McNamara, Professor of Palaeontology at UCC.

On 28th June, Harper's Island Wetlands Nature Reserve in Glounthaune, Co. Cork played host to its first ever Bee Safari, led by avid bee-watcher Colm Damery. Jim Wilson was on hand and recorded an interview with Colm for tonight's programme.

On World Seabird Day, 3rd July, BirdWatch Ireland, in conjunction with BirdLife International, published a map showcasing the 73 most important areas for seabirds in Ireland.

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.