Wiktionary
n. 1 (context idiomatic English) The practice or characteristic of carefully gathering information; a state or mindset of attentiveness. 2 (context attributively usually hyphenated English) Pursuing the practice or having the characteristic of carefully gathering information; well-informed.
Wikipedia
Ear to the Ground is a weekly television programme broadcast on Ireland's RTÉ One on Thursday evenings at 20:30. It consists of reports about rural, countryside and environmental issues. Currently in its sixteenth season, it is produced by Independent Pictures and presented by Ella McSweeney, Darragh McCullough and Helen Carroll. Previous presenters include Maeve Dineen, who left after the fifteenth season and the long-running Mairead McGuinness, who later became a Member of the European Parliament for Fine Gael. The show is repeated on RTÉ One after the lunchtime news each Sunday.
Usage examples of "ear to the ground".
Merrick could keep his ear to the ground and at the same time pass back info on the K.
I kept my ear to the ground, but I never heard a word about a woman with little ones debarking anywhere along the rivers.
DOC SAVAGE listened with only half attention, for he was worming a slow way through the weeds, pressing an ear to the ground at frequent intervals.
She knew of Malistra only dimly, and then only because as Eleusis Ashera's mistress she had had her ear to the ground.