In this special edition of the programme, we find out more about roosting starlings and rooks!  Where do birds roost - and why?  Derek Mooney teams up Richard Collins and Eugene Dunbar (from BirdWatch Ireland) at Lough Ennell in Co. Westmeath, as they find out about the marvellous starling murmurations that can be viewed there.  And in the nearby village of Kilbeggan, Terry Flanagan talks to local man TP O'Gorman, and Eanna chats to ornithologist Eric Dempsey, about the numerous amount of crows that can be found roosting there...

Google map showing locations visited in this programme (marked in red)

Top left: Richard Collins and Eugene Dunbar; Top right: Tom O'Callaghan, Eugene Dunbar and Richard Collins; Bottom: photo of a Starling by Michael Finn / BirdWatch Ireland (www.birdwatchireland.ie/IrelandsBirds/Starling)

Top left: Eric Dempsey and Eanna ni Lamhna; Top middle: rook roosting in Kilbeggan; Top right: Eanna ni Lamhna, Eric Dempsey and Terry Flanagan; Bottom: photo of a Rook by Ronnie Martin / BirdWatch Ireland (www.birdwatchireland.ie/IrelandsBirds/Crows/Rook)

***We're Looking For Your Starling Murmuration Footage For TV!***

Do you have any photos or videos of starling murmurations?  We would love to share them!  Derek will be appearing on the Today programme on RTÉ One television during the week, to talk about starling murmurations, so if you would like YOUR photos and videos of starling murmurations to appear on TV, then just send them in to us!  E-mail mooney@rte.ie, and as well as sending in your footage, please tell us your name, where the murmuration happened, when you saw it, what time of day it occured, where you're from and your contact details.  Please note that there is no fee, but we will credit you!

Here are just a small sample of some of the beautiful photos and videos you have sent in to us so far!

Murmuration in Ennis, Co. Clare - photo by John Kelly

Murmuration in Ballywilliam, Co. Wexford - photos by Edward Delaney

Brian Carruthers sent us this amazing video of a starling murmuration over Lough Ennell; he writes "from December through to February, try the area around Lilliput Adventure Centre, located in Johnathan Swift Park, on the shores of Lough Ennell, 10 minutes from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath and approximately one hour from Dublin.  To be in with a good chance of viewing them, be there one hour before complete sunset on a calm evening, It is a magnificent sight to behold, one of nature's triumphs.  The video included does not do the action justice, we were told we missed the main action by 15-30mins , but still enjoyed the event unfolding!"

The folks behind the Athlone Town Facebook page sent us this link of a starling murmuration in the town: 

Gustavo Zoladz sent us a link to this video he filmed of a murmuration on Lough Ennell.

To listen back to the 2015 Mooney Goes Wild documentary Starlings, visit www.rte.ie/radio1/mooney/programmes/2015/0102/669979-mooney-friday-january-2nd-2015, and for further information on starling murmurations, visit www.rte.ie/radio1/mooney/programmes/2015/1227/756094-mooney-goes-wild-sunday-27-december-2015.

For an archived version of our Starlings factsheet, visit www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/schoolwatch/starling.