RSPB: The Dawn Chorus

‘BLASTED bird’ is a thought that occasionally passes through my mind, especially in the early hours of the morning, when I need to get more sleep and a ‘lovely’ bird is singing its heart out in the garden.

When you think about it they are living by daylight hours whilst we humans live by numbers on a mechanical or digital timepiece. In earlier times I guess we used to live by daylight but technology and standardisation have changed things. At this time of year most birds are singing their hearts out, particularly early in the morning. Either this is to attract a mate or to tell other birds that this is their territory and to say ‘keep away this is mine’. You may be lucky to own your own property and possibly some ground around it. Property ownership is irrelevant to animals and birds. They will claim and use it to their advantage and for their needs.

Many people walk around with earphones or headphones on listening to their own choice of music or podcast etc. Personally I like listen

to the sounds of nature sometimes cursing the superimposition of traffic, trains or planes. What I am not good at is identifying each individual sound. The song of a Nightingale is sometimes said to be the best. Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Robins sing lovely songs etc and are often heard in our gardens. Some birds just make a simple single note sound, a very scratchy noise or a wonderful tune. Some Woodpeckers do not sing at all but just make tapping noises.

This time of year bird song is probably at its best. The local Bracknell and Wokingham RSPB group leads a Dawn Chorus walk around Dinton Pastures to listen to and identify bird song. A walk is taking place on Sunday morning May 6, meeting at the Main car park at 5am, yes five o’clock in the morning. This is a perfect time of year to listen, watch and be guided by those who know much more than me.

Wake up early, come along and enjoy the sounds of nature.