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17 April 2007
Attention all early birds
The Wildlife Trust Celebrates International Dawn Chorus Day
All over the world people will be getting up at the crack of dawn on Sunday 6 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.
Twywell Hills and Dales Nature Reserve
Dawn Chorus Walk on Sunday 6 May at 5.30am
To celebrate, The Wildlife Trust is holding a Dawn Chorus Walk at Twywell Hills and Dales nature reserve, starting during the magical twilight hours at 5.30am and finishing with hot drinks and biscuits.
Thanks to a grant from the Hanson Environment Fund for the Anthills Project, which was officially launched during August 2006, major habitat improvement work has taken place at the reserve. These changes are to enhance the abundance of wild flowers and insects and to open up areas for birds such as skylarks and woodpeckers.
Twywell Hills and Dales reserve is one of only two quarries in the county, which are legally protected Sites of Special Scientific Interest status. The deep gullet at the reserve was formed by ironstone extraction, which in turn exposed the limestone banks. The reserve was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its rich flora and fauna including great crested newts, rare butterflies and plants such as common spotted orchids and hart’s tongue ferns. Twywell forms a key link in delivering the county’s aspirations to create a green infrastructure link between Kettering and Thrapston, for people and wildlife.
To book, please telephone The Wildlife Trust on 01604 405285 or e-mail juliette.butler@wildlifebcnp.org. A small donation of £2.00 per person would be appreciated. Places are limited, so please book as early as possible.
Cambourne
Dawn Chorus Walk on Sunday 6 May at 5am
The Wildlife Trust is also holding a Dawn Chorus Walk at Cambourne, starting during the twilight hours at 5am and finishing with hot drinks and muffins.
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.
Many Cambourne residents with bird feeders will have blackbirds, great tits and greenfinches visiting their gardens. But Cambourne also has corn buntings, skylarks and turtle doves making their home in the green spaces. 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. A £2 donation per person is requested to help the Wildlife Trust with their ongoing work in the local area.