It is International Dawn Chorus Day, 3 May. It’s an opportunity to make time to listen to the birds in the morning, and share that sound with others. 🙂

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds says “across the world, people are setting their alarms a little earlier to wake up to the dawn chorus through a cracked bedroom window, catching it on the dog walk before the school run, or stepping outside after a late night to find the birds already in full voice.”

Here’s a snippet of the dawn chorus from a Somerset garden with song thrush, wren, blackbird, blue tit and wood pigeon.

A few minutes later I heard chiffchaffs join the chorus, and half an hour later there were swifts swooshing by.

The RSPB also say “there has been a serious decline in the numbers of many birds, including the Song Thrush, Skylark, Lapwing and House Sparrow. This decline has been gradual. Most of the declining species are farmland birds.”

It is joyous to hear birdsong in the garden. We avoid using pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and try to keep our garden full of berries and seeds for the birds to enjoy.

As I’m lucky enough to have a garden I think it’s my responsibility to share it nicely with our feathered friends.