I was awake before 3am, and it was raining. But at 5am the rain had ceased and I listened to the dawn chorus – a Blackbird chorus. It was simply wonderful. A free treat. Not of our making, and not for us, but nonetheless something we can enjoy.
I seem to be going to bed earlier and earlier and waking earlier and earlier too. Last night I watched the first half of the football and then went to bed and intended to listen to the second half (this was about 8:30pm) in bed but fell asleep. If this continues, then by midsummer I’ll be going to bed before 6pm and waking at midnight! Except the clocks change this weekend, and a consequence of that will be that today’s 5am chorus will be at 6am next week so you could set your alarm early, but later, if you want to enjoy it too.
Yesterday a male Blackbird was carrying a small beakful of food to the nextdoor garden and I think that he must have some nestlings already. The next generation of songsters is being raised.
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‘I have told elsewhere how the trained and sensitive ear of Theodore Roosevelt selected the song of the blackbird as the best of all the songs that he heard on a certain day in early June in England.’
[Grey of Fallodon, The Charm of Birds, 1927]
who in their right mind doesn’t love a blackbird, especially in the spring?
I think everyone should enjoy as many dawn chorus, in as many different habitats as they can leading up to International Dawn Chorus Day on the first Sunday of May. Then pick your very favourite place on IDCD to be part of a global celebration. My favourite site is by the South African Memorial on Plymouth Hoe, not a classic site but for a city for me a special place.