Northern Ireland

RSPB urges people to 'wake up to the dawn chorus' on Sunday

The tree sparrow is among the birds likely to be heard in the dawn chorus
The tree sparrow is among the birds likely to be heard in the dawn chorus The tree sparrow is among the birds likely to be heard in the dawn chorus

THE Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is urging people to "wake up to the dawn chorus" on Sunday and get outside to listen to the birds singing.

The charity is marking 'International Dawn Chorus Day' on May 1 with an appeal for people to listen to the dawn chorus, "but also to wake up to the fact this national treasure is under threat with many of the UK’s favourite birds in decline".

Skylarks, song thrushes, robins, blackbirds, wrens and warblers are among the birds likely to be heard in the dawn chorus, which is the time when birds sing to each other.

A birdsong builds over the course of an hour to announce they are looking for love. It happens at this time of year because the weather is warmer, food more abundant and new places to nest.

But the RSPB says that around 40 million birds have disappeared from the UK since 1966.

Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB said: "We love our wildlife here in the UK and people are interested in what they can hear in the dawn chorus and why it happens at this time of year.

"We get so many calls from people to say how much they love listening but questioning whether it’s as loud as is once was.

"The answer is no, we have lost around 40 million birds from our skies in the UK since 1966, and many of the nation’s favourite birds are continuing to decline.

"Which does mean, although still spectacular, the dawn chorus is losing its singers."

Ms Speight added that "we need to protect the dawn chorus for future generations, which includes our politicians turning their promises to halt wildlife decline into the action required".

For further information, pleas visit www.rspb.org.uk/dawnchorus