POPULARITY
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.
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.
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.
We received an interesting email about a robin nesting in a barber shop in Dublin. Naturally, Terry Flanagan had to go off and investigate.
Of the many public parks across the city of Dublin, Blessington Street Basin is special. Its lake attracts many birds of different species, including swans and ducks. A brand new duck-food vending machine has been installed and Terry Flanagan and Richard Collins went along to try it out for themselves.
A campaign has recently been launched by UCC Marine Biologist Danielle Orrell to try to find hatching grounds of Flapper Skates (or mermaid's purses) off the south coast of Ireland. Keen to discover more about them and how you can get involved, we dispatched Terry Flanagan to Cork to meet Danielle.
Recently, the University of Galway launched its Pocket Forest project, which has involved the planting of a new 100m2 native woodland on campus. Recently, Terry Flanagan visited the University of Galway campus and met up with Dr. Caitriona Carolan, ecologist and Lecturer in Environmental Science and Biodiversity.
On tonight's programme, Terry Flanagan tells us about one of Ireland's most abundant and best-known plants, the dandelion, and the surprising benefits it brings to Guinea Pigs.
One of the joys of early spring is seeing Common Frogs coming out of hibernation, triggered by the warming conditions and increasing day-length. Dermott Doran is a farmer in Co. Kildare who created a pond on his land where more and more frogs have been turning up to mate. Terry Flanagan went to see it.
National Tree Week runs this year from March 9th to 16th and the theme of this year's celebration is “Planting Trees, Growing Together”. To find out more, Terry Flanagan visited The National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin in Dublin, where he spoke to Education Officer Felicity Gaffney and our own Éanna Ní Lamhna.
The Starling murmuration is the name given to the phenomenon which sees hundreds of thousands of these small birds dancing through the air in winter and early spring. Terry Flanagan went to Lough Ennell in Co. Westmeath to meet James Crosbie and witness one.
Just one species of insect has specifically been afforded protection under Irish law: the Marsh Fritillary butterfly. Every year, volunteers from the Irish Peatland Conservation Council conduct surveys of wet grassland areas to monitor the species. Terry Flanagan met Nuala Madigan from the group.
One of Ireland's scarcest and most elusive breeding birds, the Goosander is not your typical duck. As far as we know, Ireland's Goosanders breed only in the uplands of Co. Wicklow. Eager to see his first ever Goosander, Terry Flanagan went to a secluded Wicklow lake and met local naturalist, author and bird-expert Declan Murphy.
February is often referred to as “Snowdrop Month”, as it is the time of year when these delightful flowers burst forth from the soil marking the arrival of spring. Terry Flanagan went to visit Burtown House in Co. Kildare, a Quaker House whose gardens come alive with snowdrops and other flowers each spring.
This is a repeat of today's Nature on One documentary. In it, biologist Terry Flanagan delves into the fascinating world of the red fox. Known for its adaptability and intelligence, it plays a vital role in the ecosystem and offers insight into the delicate balance of nature.
Recently, Jesmond Harding from Butterfly Conservation Ireland was in-studio and brought a surprise guest...the (extremely large) pupal stage of the Death's-head Hawk-moth. This extremely striking creature is not a common insect in Ireland.Terry Flanagan went to see this incredible creature before it was released into the wild.
Lichens expert Paul Whelan has been working on his latest book for the past four years and it is Terry Flanagan's Christmas recommendation this year. For tonight's programme, Terry travelled to Midleton, Co. Cork to meet Paul, to observe some of the local varieties of lichen and, of course, to chat about his book.
We recently received an email from one of our loyal listeners, Conor Cunnane. Conor, who lives in Co. Kildare, noticed that Magpies are nesting in his garden. It's unusual for these birds to build their nests so early so we sent Terry Flanagan there to find out more.
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.
Terry Flanagan was at the launch of Éanna Ní Lamhna's new book, 'The Great Irish Biodiversity Book'. The book, illustrated by Barry Falls, takes the reader through various wildlife habitats - "from bogs to beaches and woodland to grassland".
At this time of year, many animals take full advantage of the feast that the season provides and gather acorns. But it's not just wild animals. Setup in 2021, the Nature Trust is a not-for-profit organisation that organises large-scale acorn collections. Terry Flanagan went to meet their members in Co. Wicklow.
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.
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.
Many people don't like snails, possibly because of the way they move or the slime they leave behind...but not Co. Monaghan-based farmer Kieran Corley, who rears them. Our roving reporter, Terry Flanagan, recently paid a visit to Drumlin country to find out more about these amazing creatures.
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.
Each week, Terry Flanagan brings us specially selected stories about the natural world. Tonight's topics: Good news for Irish Corncrakes; Where have all our butterflies gone?; and Studying the effects of cocaine on sharks!
Derek is joined by Éanna Ní Lamhna, Richard Collins, Terry Flanagan & Niall Hatch to discuss a rare orchid that has been rediscovered in Galway, Wings magazine, and Terry's Nature News.
Dermott Doran, a farmer based in north Co. Kildare, tells our roving reporter Terry Flanagan that around 1,000 young birds have fledged from his wall to date.
Derek is joined by Richard Collins, Niall Hatch and Terry Flanagan to discuss violets, sand Martins, and the undersea world
We dispatched our roving reporter, biologist Terry Flanagan, to “The Bots” to speak with our good friend there, Director Dr. Matthew Jebb, about what the award means to him and his hard-working team and the attractions currently on offer to visitors.
Derek is joined by Richard Collins, Niall Hatch and Terry Flanagan to discuss Meerkats, Pigeons, Natterjack Toads, the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin and much more
Our roving reporter Terry Flanagan travelled to Fota to speak with Aileen Tennant about her new role, the animals of the park and her plans for the future of this remarkable institution.
Derek is joined by Richard Collins, Niall Hatch and Terry Flanagan to discuss Hippos, Insects, Blue Chaffinch and much more.
Derek is joined by Niall Hatch, Terry Flanagan and Richard Collins.
Our roving reporter, biologist Terry Flanagan, travelled to Fota Wildlife Park in Co. Cork for tonight's programme. Terry was there to report on the recent birth of three male Asiatic Lion cubs.
Listener Denis Crone got in touch with us recently, asking for our help. He has a goldfish pond in his garden in Saggart, Co Dublin and recently he discovered that all of his fish had been killed by an Otter. We duly dispatched Terry Flanagan to check out the pond and to provide some advice.
Derek is joined by Richard Collins, Terry Flanagan and Michèle Browne. Topics up for discussion include Bees, Otters, Sand Martins and an exhibition at the National Botanic Gardens.
We dispatched our roving reporter Terry Flanagan to a Bee Identification Workshop at Baltyboys House in Blessington, Co. Wicklow, organised by Brian Murray of microWild, a project to promote and create biodiversity meadows.
Derek is joined by Eric Dempsey, Richard Collins, Éanna Ní Lamhna and Michele Browne, with reports by Terry Flanagan & Niall Hatch.
Our roving reporter Terry Flanagan travelled to the campus of University College Cork, where he spoke to BirdWatch Ireland's Dr. Alan McCarthy about a pair of Ravens that are nesting in a pine tree in the university grounds.
Our roving reporter Terry Flanagan paid a visit to a listener called Margaret Nangle, who has a pre-school in Summerhill, Co. Meath. For many years now, the school has had a nestbox with a camera.
Our resident biologist and roving reporter Terry Flanagan took a trip recently to Cloncrow Bog, just outside the town of Tyrrellspass in Co. Westmeath.He met up with Eugene Dunbar, secretary of a local ETHOS: what a great name!
Derek is joined by Richard Collins, Niall Hatch, Matthew Jebb, Terry Flanagan and Michele Browne. Topics up for discussion include the Island of Lambay, Duke of Wellingtons tree, Sri Lanka, Cloncrow Bog and Shamrocks.
Richard took a stroll with our roving reporter Terry Flanagan at Broadmeadow Estuary in north Co. Dublin to take a look at a pair of these magnificent creatures.
Our reporter Terry Flanagan recently met the CEO of Global Action Plan, Hans Zomer, who explained what the Climate Heroes Challenge entails and how people can become involved.
Derek is joined by Richard Collins, Terry Flanagan, Niall Hatch, Éanna Ní Lamhna, Terry Flanagan and Jim Wilson. Topic up for discussion include Blue Tits, hedge cutting, Climate Heroes Challange, birds and human health, birds standing on one leg and a new year plant hunt.
Our roving reporter Terry Flanagan travelled to the Natural History Museum in Dublin to speak to Keeper Paulo Viscardi about the large sturgeon specimen on display in the museum, originally caught in the River Liffey.
Derek is joined by Éanna Ní Lamhna, Richard Collins, Terry Flanagan, Ken Whelan and Niall Hatch. Topics up for dicussion include Common Frogs, the Great Tit, Sturgeon, Salmon and grummpy Snowdrops.
Terry Flanagan visits Co. Wicklow, the Garden County of Ireland, where he meets up with local resident and wildlife expert Rob Gandola, where they discuss an exciting new project called Living Classrooms.
Derek is joined by Éanna Ní Lamhna, Richard Collins, Terry Flanagan, Jim Wilson, Niall Hatch, Josh Davis and Rob Gandola. Topics up for discussion include; giant penguins, Blackbirds, Bullfinch, The Great Big Garden Bird Watch and Living Classrooms.