Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust shares tips for Dawn Chorus Day

Every first Sunday in May, the world celebrates one of nature’s oldest and most beautiful wake-up calls – the dawn chorus.

Birdsong enthusiasts across the globe relish in the vibrant and uplifting sounds of the dawn chorus, a melodious symphony that begins each day.

The dawn chorus, often referred to as the ‘hymn to the dawn,’ is a free, natural spectacle that unfolds as most of us are still asleep.

Colin Williams from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has shared tips on how to make the most of this unique experience, encouraging individuals to rise early and appreciate the therapeutic power of birdsong.

In these uncertain times, he suggests, there might be no better therapy than the harmonious notes of our feathered friends.

The dawn chorus is a marvel of nature, with no two performances ever quite the same.

The order in which species begin to sing depends on their feeding behaviour and the amount of light in the sky.

Traditionally, blackbirds and skylarks are the first to take their cue from the eastern sky.

The peak time for the dawn chorus is late April and early May, around 5am, as the sun rises.

This is when the chorus reaches its most intense and magnificent peak.

The variety of bird songs heard during the dawn chorus can reveal the size and diversity of the bird population in an area.

While the countryside offers the largest diversity of bird song, the parks and gardens in our towns and cities are home to many species.

Williams encourages people to simply open their bedroom windows to enjoy the symphony.

Some of the sounds to listen out for include the rich melodic notes of a blackbird, the soft conversational notes of a flock of rooks, the desolate song of a mistle thrush, and the rhythmic cooing of woodpigeons.

By 5am, the songs of many other common woodland and garden birds, such as dunnock, chiffchaff, chaffinch, nuthatch, blue, and great tits, add to the dawn chorus.

As the sun rises and the birds go about their daily activities, the chorus gradually fades away.

Williams advises that learning bird sounds can aid bird identification.

This can be done through field experience, bird sound apps, CDs, and DVDs.

A TV series counting down the UK’s Top 40 wildlife spectacles awarded birdsong and the dawn chorus a top ten place.

The dawn chorus is indeed one of the greatest natural shows on earth, a symphony that inspires awe.

For more information on where to see wildlife near you, including dawn chorus guided walks, and how to help nature on your patch, visit the Trust’s website: bbowt.org.uk.