Red Kites are the nearest birds to vultures in these islands with a wingspan of up to one and three quarter metres, resembling the frigate birds of the tropics. There has been some dispute about the kite's existence in Ireland but the birds were once widespread in England before they were driven to the brink of extinction. Kites are pirates, stealing from other birds and indeed other kites of their food. A scavenger, Kites were frequently poisoned slowly losing its numbers. However, attitudes are changing and there is now a chance that some day the species will return to its former glory.

Professor John O'Halloran is an ornithologist at UCC and has published over 120 academic papers on birds and pollution as well as contributing in a number of books. In this the final programme in the series, John focusses on the Whooper swan, which is one of three species of swan that occur in Ireland along with the Mute Swan and the Bewick's swan. The adult Whooper swan is white with a yellow bill that is usually held parallel to the water. More distinctive to the Whooper swan though is it's distinctive voice of a resonant hoop-hoop revealing the reason that swans so often evoke passion and affection. The Whooper species range from Scandinavia to Korea with the Icelandic population visiting Ireland each winter. They spread out along the coasts and on freshwater lakes and marshes as well as low-lying agricultural land. This programme will track the large migratory bird from its breeding grounds in Iceland and follow their movements to Ireland in late September before their departure again in the spring.

Although shy by nature, jays are found in every county of Ireland hidden in oak woodlands. Often mistaken for a more exotic bird the jay looks as if it would be more at home in a rain forest than in Ireland but looks can be deceiving and underneath all that colour is actually just a common crow. With a white rump and a shrill call, at this time of year, the jay is busy collecting acorns to be stored and used during the coming months. Throughout the winter each jay will remember the location of these buried acorns and use them as food right through till June the following year. Not the most popular of birds, jays are often accused of nest-robbing but their colourful plumage and distinctive noises still make them an admired member of Irish bird life.

Ornithologist and author Eric Dempsey presents this second programme in the series. A professional broadcaster, presenter and speaker, Eric Dempsey's knowledge is much sought after as one of the leading bird experts in Ireland. This programme looks at the amazing journey of the swallow, which sees in the space of five months, the bird go from being an egg to arriving in Africa. This documentary looks at the whole life cycle of Irish swallows from the moment the adults arrive and begin nesting to the laying of the first eggs. It will follow the progress of young birds in the nest to their arrival in South Africa. For this programme and as part of a European project, metal rings have been placed on young swallows so that their movements and success rates can be monitored. The Mooney Goes Wild team will then travel to Africa welcome them and watch as the swallows change from eating insects disturbed by Irish cattle to those disturbed by African buffalo.

In the short time since wolves have emerged from the shadows of misunderstanding and fear, people's fascination with wolves have grown. In this documentary, Eric Dempsey examines the primal fear of the wolf that lies within many of us. Has this fear been generated by European stories like Little Red Ridinghood or the association of wolves with Bram Stokers 'Dracula'. or is there another reason? Eric looks at the history of wolves in Ireland from the ancient fossil records to more modern times and looks at the place the wolf has in Irish mythology. Travelling to Germany, he discovers the status of wolves and the threats they face in Europe and across the world. He also discovers that mans best friend, the dog, is in fact a direct descendant of the wolf..the wolf in the livingroom! In Germany he also comes face-to-face with captive wolves and speaks with wolf experts on the habitats and behaviour of wild wolves. Finally, Eric makes a journey of discovery to the mid-western United States in search of wild wolves. There, he experiences wolves first hand, hearing the haunting sounds of wolves howling across the snow covered plains of the Lamar Valley in theYellowstone National Park at dawn. He meets both wolf experts and fans, and questions why the wolf holds such a fascination for these enthusiasts. "To look into the eyes of a wolf is to discover the spirit of the wild" says Eric Demspey. Presented by Eric Dempsey Produced by Derek Mooney An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland -

A large proportion of its world population come to Ireland every winter. The godwits spend their time on or near our estuaries. Jim Wilson chose this species because it is typical of our wetland birds and can be used as example to show how important Ireland is for hundreds of thousands of birds from all over the northern hemisphere.Talking about the documentary Jim Wilson says he "hopes to use the story of the black-tailed godwit to show the listener how important it is for us to protect our wildlife, to look on it as not our property but as something we should protect, cherish and enjoy as part of our heritage. Learning about birds like the black-tailed godwit in Ireland is fascinating and should be considered at least as important as cheetahs in Africa or penguins in the Antartic". Jim Wilson will tell the story of "our" black-tailed godwits, what happens these birds when they leave our shores for Iceland each spring and how nature lovers hope to find out more about them to enable us to secure their future in Ireland and beyond. Jim Wilson started his first nature notebook when he was 12 years old. He has studied all aspects of Irish natural history for over 25 years but has a particular interest in the birds of Ireland. He is a computer systems administrator by profession and works for the Southern Health Board at Cork University Hospital. Presented by Jim Wilson Produced by Derek Mooney(First broadcast 20/06/01)An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland

Born within a couple of hundred metres of the Phoenix Park, Terry spent much of his childhood fascinated by these majestic animals that roamed the Park. Now he has fulfilled his ambition by spending a year following their progress and recording their activities from the moment of conception to the birth of a young fawn, the following year. But deer are not just confined to the Phoenix Park. Terry travels to South Co. Wicklow to spot wild and elusive deer there. Getting close to wild deer is nowhere like as easy as watching the deer in the Park. Possibly the best known of the deer species is the reindeer and Terry travelled to Lapland to see them and discover how they have become adapted to the harsh conditions present there. The recent Foot and Mouth scare sent shivers down the spines of those concerned with our deer populations, not least the Fallow Deer in the Park. Terry looks at the measures taken to prevent this infection spreading to the Park and what lessons can be learned from this tragedy. He also speaks with the Irish Deer Society and discovers the role they play in helping to conserve our deer. The population of Fallow Deer have been present in the Phoenix Park for over 300 years now. They have become an icon, not just to to Dubliners, but to everybody in Ireland. Many placenames throughout the country are derived from the former presence of fallow deer, or more particularly the parks in which they were confined. There are locations called Deerpark in at least 16 counties.The highlight of the year long project for Terry was the birth of a young fawn and the subsequent intensive study, tagging and monitoring of the individual animals following their release by the Mammal Research team from UCD led by Dr. Tom Hayden. Presented by Terry Flanagan Producer by : Derek MooneyFirst Broadcast 2006An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland