There is a special time of day when the horizon starts to brighten before the sunrise, when the cool night air is still felt on your cheeks and frost or dew is still underfoot. It is the time of day when your ears start to pick up the burble of birds. It is the dawn chorus, a magnificent reminder that the dark of night and the cold of winter are at an end. No matter which part of the Earth I am on, I am in awe of April’s dawn chorus, when the avian orchestra seems to grow in numbers with each passing day as different species return from their migration. It is one of my favourite times to be outside as it seems the world is waking up.
There are a few reasons given for why birds sing so much at dawn as opposed to other times of day. One is that at this time of day it is hard to forage because the insects and worms are not as active, and seeds are hard to find in the dark. Another reason given is that the cooler morning air is less turbulent, which means the songs can carry much further afield. There is also less noise disturbance from other things like traffic and people, making bird songs carry about 20 times as far at dawn then midday. But what are these feathered friends broadcasting anyways?
One very important message comes from males looking to find a mate. The louder you sing and the more robust your song, the more physically fit you must be, so female birds will be very interested in coming to see you (male birds do most of the singing). Birds cannot cheat while singing. If you are healthy your song will carry farther than if you are unwell. The other important message is about territory. Nighttime is a dangerous time to be a bird. It is colder and harder to see predators and other threats. When a bird survives the night, it sings to broadcast the message, “I’m still here. This is still my space”. Neighbouring birds can distinguish between the voices of different birds of their own species and know if the singer is a newcomer who might be threatening their space or just their usual neighbour. If no call is heard, then the message is that there might be new territory up for grabs.
If you have been following the news, it might be making you feel like we are heading into uncertain times as Canada’s neighbour seems to be singing a different song. I think it is important for us to take a lesson from the birds. To celebrate each day as it comes. To keep broadcasting our message, that we are kind, resilient and proud of our own territory. I would encourage you to open your windows or walk outside and welcome the dawn chorus into your morning routine. Listen to the beautiful birds returning from their long migrations, put out some water for them, turn off your lights at night to make their journey safer. Small acts of kindness still go a long way.
