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18 April 2008
Attention all early birds
The Wildlife Trust Celebrates International Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday 4 May
All over the world people will be getting up at the crack of dawn on Sunday 4 May to experience the unique and fascinating sounds of the dawn chorus. Sounds of male songbirds are heard singing their hearts out to attract females and also to protect their territories from other trespassing males.
International Dawn Chorus Day is an annual celebration of our oldest wake-up call with countries participating from all over the world including Italy, France, Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand.
To celebrate, The Wildlife Trust is holding Dawn Chorus Walks in Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough. Please see below for further details of each event:
Cambourne Dawn Chorus Walk on Sunday 4 May at 4am
The Wildlife Trust is holding a Dawn Chorus Walk at Cambourne, starting at 4am and finishing with hot drinks and muffins at The Manor House.
The Wildlife Trust looks after 83 hectares of green space in Cambourne. There is a combination of newly created and existing habitats, including woodland, grassland, lakes and wetland. Together with the village greens and household back gardens, the green spaces in Cambourne have attracted a large number of familiar garden birds, as well as some more unusual ones such as corn buntings, skylarks and turtle doves. All will be contributing to the magical sound of the dawn chorus.
If you would like to join The Wildlife Trust for this special event and learn more about these birds, please call to book your place on 01954 713500 or email jenny.mackay@wildlifebcnp.org. A £2 donation per person is requested to help the Wildlife Trust with their ongoing work in the local area.
Southwick Wood Nature Reserve
Dawn Chorus Walk on Sunday 4 May at 4am
Starting during the magical twilight hours at 4am and finishing with refreshments, cakes and biscuits at Glapthorn Village Hall, local people will be taken on a guided walk around this beautiful woodland reserve.
This important woodland site has recently been purchased by The Wildlife Trust thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the River Nene Regional Park (RNRP), through its GI Environmental Grant Scheme. The site will be managed as a nature reserve for important ancient woodland flora such as bluebells, wild service trees and birds like the woodcock. The nature reserve is open to the public and has a network of pathways to explore the woodland and discover its fantastic wildlife.
So come along, get some fresh spring air and experience the magic for yourselves at this fantastic Northamptonshire reserve. To book, please telephone The Wildlife Trust on 01604 405285 or e-mail juliette.butler@wildlifebcnp.org. A small donation of £2 per person or £5 per family would be appreciated. Places are limited, so please book as soon as possible.
Peterborough Dawn Chorus Walk on Sunday 4 May at 4.30am - THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Between 4.30am and 6.30am, Jono Leadley from The Wildlife Trust will be leading a special Dawn Chorus event at a secret location in the Peterborough area.
Being up before dawn on a calm May morning is a wonderful, life-enhancing experience. From the first robins and blackbirds, which begin singing their melancholic songs in the last hour of darkness before dawn, through to the cacophony of warblers, tits, thrushes and finches, it is a magical natural experience.
Everyone can experience a dawn chorus, simply by visiting a green space just before dawn between March and June and just listening. It doesn’t matter if you can’t recognise the bird songs for yourself but if you are curious to know what the different birds are then an organised event gives participants the chance to learn about the different bird songs.
Due to the nature of the activity places are extremely limited and only suitable for adults and young people over 8 years of age. Details of the venue and what to bring will be sent out with bookings. For more information please contact The Wildlife Trust’s Peterborough office on (01733) 890419 or email peterborough@wildlifebcnp.org