International Dawn Chorus Day, Sunday 6th May (1 Viewer)

The following press release has just been sent out by the Wildlife Trusts.
I've posted this here for general information.

Be Wowed by the Magic of the World’s Oldest Wake-up call.

All over the world people will be rising early on International Dawn Chorus Day, Sunday 6th May to hear one of the most stunning and moving performances of the natural calendar.

Here in the UK, night owls’ can enjoy the Dawn Chorus from as early as 4am. For simple appreciation, all you have to do is open your bedroom window, breathe in the spring air and listen… but why not join an appreciative audience for a gala performance in the wild by joining in one of the many events organised by local Wildlife Trusts and other participating organisations? A listing of International Dawn Chorus Day events in the UK and around the world can be found at www.idcd.info
International Dawn Chorus Day will also be featured in the first ever podcast from The Wildlife Trusts – to download and listen (from 1st May), go to www.wildlifetrusts.org.

International Dawn Chorus Day is an annual celebration of the beauty of birdsong; it all started in 1984 with a single event, organised by The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country, held at the Moseley Bog reserve in Birmingham. Since then it has grown into a truly international event with thousands of bird lovers quietly gathering at hundreds of events to hear birds greeting the sunrise around the world.

When the first gleam of light pierces the darkness a solo bird will begin to sing, awakening others to the dawn and soon the air will be filled with the beautiful sound of birdsong. It’s a feat only nature could achieve and to truly appreciate this magnificent spectacle it’s well-worth setting your alarm early.

As summer approaches dawn chorus reaches a crescendo - male songbirds sing their hearts out to attract potential partners and to protect their territories; the chorus only ends when there is enough light for the birds to fly off to forage for food.

Neil Wyatt, director, the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham & Black Country, says: “Each morning the sun rises around a world facing ever more challenges. Everywhere people face problems of pollution, climate change and habitat destruction. Yet each morning the birds awake and sing their songs with new enthusiasm. International Dawn Chorus Day is an opportunity to set aside the environmental challenges for a few minutes. Instead, join with your friends and colleagues around the world to celebrate nature's daily miracle - the Dawn Chorus.

“Of course there is also a serious message behind International Dawn Chorus Day. In the last three decades our songbirds have been in decline due to loss of habitat and intensive farming. The skylark has fallen in number by 52%, the corn bunting by 84% and the tree sparrow has declined by a staggering 87%. The Wildlife Trusts are working to reverse this decline. And you can show your support by making this the biggest birdwatch in history!”

Wildlife Trusts’ website: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=places:events and on the International Dawn Chorus Day website: http://www.idcd.info/events-in-your-area/

Wow, pretty much nothing happening up here in Scotland. The only one seems to be lochwinnoch RSPB reserve!

They've just added this...

A pilot podcast gets to the heart of volunteering with The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts have launched a pilot podcast on their website www.wildlifetrusts.org. It is the first time the conservation charity has worked on such a project which ranges in issues from volunteering to International Dawn Chorus Day (6 May).

The free Podcast, in association with Aggregate Industries, is available today by downloading it from www.wildlifetrusts.org or local Wildlife Trust websites. The Wildlife Trusts teamed up with Aperçu Media - run by Nick Patrick, producer of Home Planet on Radio 4 - to launch the podcast, Wild World, which features interviews and news from local Wildlife Trusts.

Presented by popular BBC Radio 4 presenter, Dylan Winter, Wild World features issues tackled by Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK, including:
• Volunteering with The Wildlife Trusts. A hospital worker who volunteers at Lagan Meadows, Belfast, with Ulster Wildlife Trust talks about her experiences
• Up with the lark. Wild World marks International Dawn Chorus Day (6 May) with an early morning call from the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust
• Threatened habitat in The Solent. Dylan looks at the importance of sea grass and the consequences of damaging it for the wide variety of marine species which depend on it, with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
• What is ‘A Living Landscape’? Robin Benbow, a farmer who works for the Welsh Wildlife Trusts, explains to Maggie Ayre how he is trying to work for nature.

News shorts include the following:
• For Peat’s sake. A call to action to gardeners to buy peat-free products. Stuart Brookes at the Scottish Wildlife Trust explains why this is so important for wildlife.
• Avocet Watch. Guarding eggs on the Essex coast with Essex Wildlife Trust.
• Helping the hairstreak. How volunteers in Northamptonshire can help save a butterfly with the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northampton and Peterborough.

The Wildlife Trusts’ chief executive, Stephanie Hilborne, said: “We are committed to finding ways and new technologies which help to bring the UK’s vital conservation issues to people. People around the UK and beyond have the chance to hear from our army of committed conservationists – both staff and volunteers – who are helping to stitch the UK’s environment back together.”

The pilot has been produced by Nick Patrick at Aperçu Media. He said: “Throughout the UK, The Wildlife Trusts are at the cutting-edge of nature conservation. The range of expertise is vast so, if you’re interested in wildlife and care for the environment, listen to “Wild World” at www.wildlifetrusts.org – it’s just a click away.”