I enjoy the patterns and rhythms of the seasons, nature’s gentle cues to shift and renew. Spring has an energetic rhythm and, as April makes way for May, the dawn chorus is at its most melodious. 

As an early riser who never sets an alarm, I’m often awake as the first birds start their calls. In our garden close to the city, the blackbird is always the lead as he begins his short trilling bursts just before it starts to get light. The dawn chorus tends to be a male-dominated event as territories are claimed through song and males call out to find a mate. 

As dawn breaks, our blackbird is then joined by a few other species including dunnock, great tit, blue tit, goldfinch, and wren. Unusually, we don’t have robins in our garden, but we do find them on nearby walks. I recommend using a bird ID app such as Merlin to help identify and learn the different bird songs and calls.

Early birds

So, what are the benefits of having an avian chorus so early in the day?

On a practical note, particularly near urban areas, it is much quieter at first light without background noise from traffic and the hum of daily life. I live within earshot of a motorway, so traffic is a constant rumble for most of the day. Morning air is also much cooler and denser, and there is usually less wind, which all helps sound to travel further. 

For a really juicy piece of scientific theory, there is the snappily titled inefficient foraging hypothesis which links the low availability of insect food for birds and the difficulty of searching for it in low light. Basically, it’s too dark to eat so you may as well use your time to stake your territory through song!

The beauty of scientific research is that there are always new hypotheses and, in a recent study, a new theory suggests that the dawn chorus is simply birds re-staking their territorial claims after being inactive through the night. 

The future of the dawn chorus

Early morning light and spring temperatures are the main environmental signals for birds to begin their dawn chorus. However, with a rapidly changing climate and increased noise and light from our activities, we are undoubtedly impacting the patterns and rhythms of the seasons. Could we see an earlier chorus as temperatures rise, or a change in the diversity of bird species that join in?

A bigger dawn chorus

Whilst the dawn chorus in my garden is pleasant, for a full surround sound experience I take a short walk to my local woodland. If you have woodland near you, I recommend visiting at dawn during the spring months to hear the chorus at full volume. On my most recent visit, I counted eighteen different species singing which produced an amazing wall of sound. 

I also managed to hear some of my favourites, including the song thrush, chiffchaff, and blackcap. 

International Dawn Chorus Day is celebrated on the first weekend in May, so this is a perfect opportunity to rise a little earlier and find a quiet spot to listen.

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