This episode is published on International Dawn Chorus Day which takes place on the first Sunday of May every year and this year it’s Sunday May 5th. It is a worldwide celebration of nature's greatest symphony and in this show we want to celebrate birds in general, the birds of Bath and their incredible songs. One of the main reasons that birds like to sing at dawn is that it’s quieter then, the air is usually very still and birdsong has been shown to carry 20 times further at dawn.

Remember you don't have to head out to a nature reserve, you can always just open your window - and listen.

The episode starts off very early one morning just behind Sydney gardens with expert bird listener Lucy Starling who was keen to find out whether a pair of sedge warblers had returned to nest in Bathampton meadows.

Ed Drewitt is a local naturalist, author, tour leader, birder, photographer, public speaker, bird ringer, zoologist, feather expert and he’s currently studying for a PhD based on researching Peregrines for the last 24 years. He talks about what the dawn chorus means to him and describes the life of a peregrine falcon and the Peregrine Project in Bath.

The episode finishes with a walk organised by the Cotswolds Wardens with expert birder Marika Kovacs.

Credits

Music: Audionautix

Dawn Chorus audio kindly recorded by Ed Drewitt

Produced by Pommy Harmar

Links

RSPB - dawn chorus - www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/the-dawn-chorus-all-you-need-to-know-about-natures-big-show

Bath Peregrine Project nest site webcam - www.hawkandowltrust.org/live-cameras/bath-peregrines

Cotswold Warden Walks - www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/visiting-and-exploring/guided-walks

Ed Drewitt - www.eddrewitt.co.uk

Bath Natural History Society - www.bathnats.org.uk

Bathscape - www.bathscape.co.uk