In our end of year Christmas Special, Niall and Ricky consider what birds Santa might be enjoying at his bird table in an exploration of some of the hardiest species that call Finnish Lapland home.

There is something in Santa’s bag for everyone in this episode, from fit finches to tough tits and canny corvids! 

We hope you enjoy it, thanks for listening and happy Christmas! 

In Your Nature features Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer with Offaly County Council and Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly, and Westmeath County Councils and the Heritage Council.

This week In Your Nature focuses on the topic of invasive species, looking specifically at two new kids on the block, the Quagga Mussel and the Alpine Newt*, two recently discovered unwelcome colonisers! 

Ricky speaks to alien invasive species expert Dr. Jan-Robert Baars, Lecturer and Assistant Professor at the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences at University College Dublin (UCD). Jan is an expert in the field with particular interest in invasion biology. Jan’s work together with colleagues in UCD and the Herpetological Society of Ireland have been monitoring Quagga Mussels and Alpines Newts since they’ve established and now appear to be thriving here in Ireland. 

The Rose-ringed Parakeet is our Bird of the Week, a charismatic yet invasive species now gaining a foothold in Dublin and some of our other urban centres. 
 
Learn more about the species featured in this episode at the links below...

-        Quagga Mussel

-        Alpine Newt

*The Alpine Newt is not currently recognised as an alien invasive species in Ireland. More here. 

In Your Nature features Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer with Offaly County Council and Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly, and Westmeath County Councils and the Heritage Council.

This week Niall and Ricky are feeling the chill prompting the question, where do our summer migrants to Ireland go to get some winter sun? They discuss a list of species across the bird families that up sticks in autumn and leave in pursuit of an endless summer of sorts.

A story of migration but focusing on the where and why of these massive journeys.

Blackcap is our Bird of the Week, a species once considered a summer migrant that has now become a winter resident through a fascinating turn of events!

Learn more about the species featured in this episode at the links below...
- Corncrake
- Manx Shearwater
- Swallow
- Swift
- Cuckoo
- Red-Necked Phalarope
- Chiffchaff
- Willow Warbler
- Puffin

In Your Nature features Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer with Offaly County Council and Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland and is edited by Ann-Marie Kelly. The series is supported by Laois, Offaly, and Westmeath County Councils and the Heritage Council.