Come the dawn
THERE is nothing better than getting out in May and listening to a dawn chorus, wherever you are in Britain. The outpouring of what are usually common birds is tremendous and uplifting. International Dawn Chorus Day is Sunday 2 May 2021, but you can go out any time in early May, if travel is permitted. Here are some tips on how to enjoy the best dawn chorus.
■ Choose a good location:
pick somewhere with different habitats close by. Good mature woodland close to a wetland or heathland near an estuary will provide lots of different birds to hear. Make sure there is no extraneous sound nearby such as a busy road.
■ Pick a still clear morning:
one of the reasons birds sing at dawn as they can be heard best at this time. A sunny morning will encourage singing and a lack of wind will also help as singing birds may be stimulated when they hear a rival.
■ Get there early: part of the enjoyment is hearing the first bird and listening to the gradual build up as more and more species join in.
Get into position at least an hour before sunrise as the first glimmer of light can set birds off. If necessary take a torch and a warm drink. Make a note of the order in which species start singing and this can be compared with other locations.
■ Listen from home: with travel limited, listening to a recording can be almost as enjoyable. Here are two websites to visit which have some of the best recordings available:
• BBC Soundscape www. bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/ p01xd2k6. This features several recordings from the BBC; the dawn chorus recorded just north of Aldeburgh in Suffolk by celebrated recordist Chris Watson is especially good.
• Sound Approach www. soundapproach.co.uk/tenfabulous-dawn-choruses-tocelebrate-international-dawnchorus-day-3-may-2020/. This article features choruses from countries around the Western Palearctic, including Poland, Portugal, Morocco, Oman and others. These superb soundscapes run for more than half an hour and are a real tonic during times when travelling to bird has been curtailed.