Dawn Chorus

It’s only about a week until the International Dawn Chorus celebrations on the first Sunday of May, but the singing is already well underway so you don’t need to wait until then to get outside and listen. In fact, if you’d rather not share it with anyone else, I’d recommend setting that early alarm for a different day.

Listening to the birds rather than watching out for them is a fantastic way to get your other senses involved and provides a different perspective of how we can connect with them.

 

What is the dawn chorus?

Not a choir of ladies called Dawn, the dawn chorus is the amazing soundscape you can hear in the morning, mainly during spring, when birds are singing to let everybody know they’re there, look for mates and defend their territory.

Wherever you are, if you’re outdoors you’re likely to hear it – even in city centres, but I’ve found the best place to hear it is in the woods – somehow it makes the birds feel closer and like you’re part of the magic somehow. The symphony tends to peak at around half an hour before and after sunrise.

 

Who’s singing?

The common participants for me include Wrens, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Wood Pigeons and Robins to name a few. Who you hear will depend on where you are and what the weather is doing.

If you don’t already have it, I’d recommend downloading the “Merlin Bird ID” app to your phone and listening to see who is out and about.

I’d LOVE to know who you heard if you do manage to get out to listen to your own dawn chorus, because chances are, everyone’s will be a unique experience.