RSPB letting nature sing in bid to raise awareness

● Country’s birds join call for action to tackle crisis facing wildlife

Iona Abbey and Union Square in Aberdeen are just two of 150 venues around the country that will be filled with the sound of birdsong tomorrow.

Following a surprise top 20 music track earlier this year, the RSPB is again using birdsong to raise awareness of the decline in wildlife.

Hampden Park, the V&A Dundee museum, Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station and the Enchanted Forest will all take part.

RSPB Scotland is having birdsong played across the country to highlight a decline in wildlife, and is calling on the government to address climate change and the environment.

In May, the RSPB had a number two hit in the Scottish charts with Let Nature Sing. The track was of pure birdsong and now the charity wants to bring the sound back into the spotlight as a reminder of what we all stand to lose if the crisis facing nature is not addressed.

New research from the RSPB has revealed people in Scotland feel addressing climate change and the environment is one of the most important issues for today’s politicians.

And the charity says more people are waking up to the crisis facing nature. When asked how they would describe the health of nature in the UK, almost six out of 10 (57%) of CALLING OUT: An adult wren singing out in scrub, a sound less likely to be heard due to the climate crisis

respondents from Scotland felt nature was not doing well or was in crisis in the UK, with less than a third (27%) believing nature was doing well or thriving.

RSPB Scotland director Anne McCall said: “In spring, our Let Nature Sing track of pure birdsong encouraged the public to reflect what birdsong means to them and highlighted the shocking declines we have seen

over the last few decades. Since then we have seen further international, UK and Scottish reports underlining the threats to our natural world. Accompanying this compelling evidence, we have also seen increasingly passionate calls from the public to do more for our environment. It is clear we must take action to address both the climate and biodiversity emergencies.”

During the RSPB’s Let Nature Sing sound takeover, birdsong will be played across Scotland in offices and public places.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Let Nature Sing sound takeovers, hosting their own event or how to listen for free to RSPB’s birdsong radio should go online to www.rspb.org.uk/ letnaturesing Aden Country Park, Mintlaw Bon Accord Centre, Aberdeen

Union Square Shopping Centre, Aberdeen

David Welch Winter Gardens, Aberdeen

Glen Garioch Distillery, Inverurie Bennachie Visitor Centre, Inverurie

Glenmore Forest Park Visitor Centre, Aviemore

Elgin Cathedral Iona Abbey Orkney Library Glencoe Visitor Centre The Mountview Hotel, Nethy Bridge Skara Brae Visitor Centre, Orkney

Cairngorms National Park – 18 visitor centres

SEPA offices The Scottish Wildlife Trust offices VisitScotland iCentres An adult lapwing, which is also known as a peewit