Martin is '˜Living the Wildlife' on TV show

‘Living the Wildlife,’ one of a series of programmes by Emmy award winner Colin Stafford Johnston called on the expertise of well-known birdwatcher and expert Martin Moloney from Buncrana for the new series.

The programme is now in its seventh year and ‘shines a light on the unique beauty of the Irish landscape as well as the diversity of the wildlife that surrounds us.’

Martin is well known across the country and county as an expert on birds and is a practising falconer.

He has a particular interest in birds of prey and was approached by Mr Stafford Johnston after being recommended to him by Inishowen wildlife ranger Emmett Johnston.

Martin, along with his son Daniel, who works for Bird Watch Ireland and is Corncrake Officer for Donegal, as well as their friend Jes McSparron also helped out with the filming last summer.

The crew were focusing on filming sparrow hawks, a bird of prey which can prove quite elusive.

Martin told the ‘Journal’ how sparrow hawks can be quite difficult to detect and one of the only places they can be clearly viewed and therefore filmed, are in their nests.

He said: “They fly very low and take smaller birds by surprise. You can never predict where they will be.”

Martin regularly monitors sparrow hawks’ nests across Inishowen, with the aid of Daniel and Jes, a tree surgeon who aids with access. The trio were able to guide the film crew to a nest in an Inishowen forest, where they got some great footage. Martin, who regularly visits schools and community events with his birds of prey, said the filming of the show was “very enjoyable.” You can watch ‘Living the Wildlife’ tonight, Friday, September 23rd at 7.30pm on RTE One. You can find out more on www.rte.ie/tv/livingthewildlife