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.
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5:26
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.
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10:13
Wearing your art on your sleeve: the ink-redible world of animal tattoos
Once considered something of a niche interest, a recent survey revealed that 35% of people in Ireland have at least one tattoo. On last week’s programme, we discussed one particularly famous animal-themed tattoo design, the Swallow. To continue this theme, on tonight’s programme we take a look at some other animal and plant-themed tattoos.
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8:11
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.
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13:53
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.
Ireland