Mooney Goes Wild

RTÉ

4.2 (52)
NATURE
EVERY TWO WEEKS

Derek Mooney and guests explore the natural world in all its forms. Listen live every Monday at 10pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

24 FEB

Calling all farmers: the Breeding Waders EIP needs you!

Amongst Ireland’s breeding birds, it is members of the wader family that are in the most severe trouble. The Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership (EIP) has been established to try to save these struggling birds and its Project Manager, Owen Murphy, speaks to the show.

24 min
24 FEB

Hazel Dormouse in Co. Kildare

A listener from Co. Kildare sent us a photo of a very small mammal that she discovered fast asleep in Co. Kildare. We showed it to Éanna, who immediately recognised it as a Hazel Dormouse which is not native to Ireland.

4 min
24 FEB

Humpback Whale bites off more than it can chew

In a recent viral video, a Chilean kayaker called Adrián Simancas had an encounter with a Humpback Whale which could certainly be described as up close and personal! On tonight’s programme, Pádraig Whooley, Sightings Officer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, is your guide to the remarbable Humpback Whale.

15 min
24 FEB

Marsh Fritillary butterfly

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.

10 min
17 FEB

If it doesn’t walk like a duck and it doesn’t talk like a duck . . . it may still be a duck!

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.

15 min
17 FEB

Knock, knock. Who’s there? The Green Woodpecker!

One of the most prominent birds at this time of year in the south of France, both visually and aurally, is the Green Woodpecker. The species is common and widespread across most of Europe, but absent from Ireland.

10 min
17 FEB

La Fête du Mimosa

This week, Niall happens to be speaking to us from Mandelieu-La Napoule in the Côte d'Azur. It's known as the Mimosa Capital of France...that's the tree rather than the cocktail! Native to southern Australia, the Mimosa is known to botanists as Acacia dealbata, a fast-growing evergreen tree which thrives in dry, sunny climes.

5 min
17 FEB

Pesticides in pet fur pose problems for nesting birds

Owners of cats or dogs will know that they shed lots of fur. While many deliberately leave this fur in gardens for birds, it may be doing harm. A team of researchers from the University of Sussex has discovered that chemicals used for the treatment of pet fleas and ticks can kill the chicks of songbirds. Dr. Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu joins us.

14 min

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4.2

out of 5

52 Ratings

Battling it out

24/09/2021

Mary🌱

Great podcast we constantly push each other off the number one spot in Ireland for nature. Check out the Burren Nature Sanctuary podcast ‘Nature Magic’. If you like this you are going to like Nature Magic too!
Great

14/02/2021

Marvelfan6211

I grew up listening to this and I have learned loads.
Good stuff

12/06/2019

Tom the gunner

Miss the daily radio show and the live Friday MGW but listening to the pod helps as Ray Darcy is unbearable.love this show
Downloads sporadic

11/11/2020

Bonxie2

Great show but frequently the show podcast does not automatically download. Have received nothing since the 26th October 2020. Not the first time this has happened. Very frustrating!!