³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

-----------------------------------

Extra Dawn Chorus Event

Celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day with ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Derby.

On Sunday 4th May at 4:30am, join ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Derby, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Breathing Places and WildDerby for a guided Dawn Chorus with Derby's RSPB Local Group.

A free breakfast will be available at 7am, but you must book that in advance on Derby 255021 or via email: wildderby@derby.gov.uk

------------------------------------

Time: 4 am. Location: Hardwick Hall.

We arrived at roughly around 4 am at Hardwick Hall, one of Derbyshire’s wonderful historically and environmentally-rich properties. The weather became a little bit grim – but we already knew it was going to be a bit rainy and windy. Not the best weather to be preparing to listen in to the dawn chorus but we decided to brave it.

We piled up the land rover and drove into one of the woodlands of Hardwick estate where you can regularly hear a good dawn chorus.

After we set up all the recording equipment, we waited and waited and waited! The wind was blowing and rain was coming in until eventually at about 6.20am , I heard the first hoot! I knew that particularly hoot was that of a tawny owl. Out of the land rover we jumped to be then greeted with the call of the pheasant.

Throughout the dawn chorus we did start to hear a few smaller birds. And when I say smaller birds Imo talking about the Robin, the Wren, a Songthrush, possibly a Great tit, but not very much else at all.

I was looking forward to maybe hearing a Blackcap, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff,Ìý Blackbirds because we do get these summer visitors to the woods. All in all it was still a very pleasant morning to be there, watch the dawn break, be in great company and hear the birds callingÌý in the environment of a woodland habitat.

It just goes to show if one is willing to get up and catch the daybreak, even if it’s in the comfort of your own back garden, it is a very exhilarating sound. It’s glorious really.
At the same time it want the most joyful of occasions for the birds. No-one would want to get up at that time in the morning and sing in that sort of weather. So do take that into consideration if you are planning an early morning wake-up call to hear the dawn chorus.

Why do the birds start singing so early?

There can be a few reasons. One is territorial. If a male Robin is on his perch, then this is where he wants to be. He thinks it is a great place to build his home. A male bird has to obtain and defend his territory. So after obtaining his chosen area he wants to live in, he then calls to tell any females that he’s there and ready for mating.

Also Spring is in the air – summer is coming, plentiful food caterpillars around insects to eat so it is good time to breed. I like to think that they are singing to express the glory of being alive.

Despite the weather at dawn when we went to record the dawn chorus, dawn is usually the calmest time of the day so rather than waste energy, the birds sing when others are most likely to hear.

History of Hardwick's birds

Now would Bess of Hardwick have been listening to these same birds had she risen before dawn break? I am sure that the majority of birds would have been heard. My reason for saying this is that the habitats within the estate now are virtually the same as four hundred years ago. The woodlands may have been managed slightly differently, more trees may have been cut for building or firewood, but yes the birds would have been the same and most of the animals would have been there.

Hardwick Hall

Various woodland Management methods are used at Hardwick. We have a special site of scientific interest (SSSI) which we don touch at all and leave it to naturally look after itself. But in other areas of the estate we take some trees out to allow more sunlight through canopy for flora and fauna.

We make sure as best we can that all habitats are there to provide homes and food sources for all birds species that live and support themselves within Hardwick estate.

Why is the Dawn Chorus so special?

How many of us get up at four or five in the morning with our busy lifestyles that we all lead? We live in a speedy society and its very worthwhile to take that moment, get up a little earlier and see how the rest of the environment starts its day.

It’s a lot better if you can look at weather forecast. Make sure it’s dry perhaps warmer and should bode better for experience than we did.

It’s an experience to be shared. Bring your family along to local guided events to be navigated through the various bird songs.

Working in countryside for about 30 years, it is very rarely I get up at 4 in the morning to get do something like that. But to see what’s happening on the property by listening to a dawn chorus gets me out and about and see the property and grounds at different time of the morning.