Derek Mooney and guests explore the natural world in all its forms.

Malar Stripes

Derek, Richard and Niall discuss why falcons and other animals appear to be wearing 'eye makeup'. The distinctive markings known as malar stripes are believed to improve the hunting ability of predators such as falcons and cheetahs.

Mysterious Sound

Mooney listener Noreen Minogue sent us this email along with the recording of a mysterious bird:

This bird is around every evening until quite dark (or else I fall asleep) and is back again very early in the morning - before dawn. I'm very curious to know what type of bird it is. It seems to be in the very high trees next to my property but also seems to roam around the field behind the house. It calls out as it moves around but mostly seems to be in the trees. I recorded it but there are background noises so I really hope you can help.

Barn Owl census:

Niall Hatch has good news about the number of Barn Owls in Ireland.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BARN OWL SURVEY

Octopuses

My Octopus Teacher is a Netflix Original documentary about the relationship between filmmaker Craig Foster and an octopus in a South African kelp forest.

It won Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards in April this year.

Louise Allcock is Professor of Zoology at NUI Galway and Director of the Ryan Institute Centre for Ocean Research and Exploration. She has been studying the biology and evolution of octopuses for some 25 years. She is based in Galway from where she joined Éanna Ní Lamhna, Dr Richard Collins and Niall Hatch.

The Earth Surface Research Laboratory

The Earth's surface is the outermost level of land and sea. Understanding it is critical to the very survival of our species.

It is where we live, where we produce our food, find raw material and bury our waste. It is where the biosphere, atmosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere all co-exist. Studying how these are linked and how we impact on them could ultimately determine the viability of the planet.

The Earth Surface Research Laboratory is a new high-tech research facility in Trinity College Dublin and is funded by Geological Survey Ireland.

The lab tackles major environmental or economic problems with broad relevance for society by investigating fundamental aspects of the Earth system.

Dr Michael Stock is Director of the Laboratory at Trinity. He spoke with Éanna Ní Lamhna from his home in south Dublin.

A Short, Hopeful Guide to Climate Change

Given that it is the young who will inherit the earth, it is perhaps not surprising that it they who are they who articulating this need for global action on climate change.

'A Short, Hopeful Guide to Climate Change' is aimed at readers aged 12 +.

Author Oisín McGann encourages young people to be part of positive change by getting involved in the global movement to fight humanity's biggest challenge.

Teacher Miriam O'Dea of St Mary's Boys National School, Booterstown, Dublin

We asked teacher Miriam O'Dea of St Mary’s Boys National School, Booterstown, Dublin, who featured recently on Mooney Goes Wild, to review the book for Mooney Goes Wild from a perspective of a primary school educator.

Our own John Bela Reilly started by asking Miriam to give a quick overview of the book.