The dawn chorus

The dawn chorus is an event which occurs around breeding season for most birds in woodland areas or parts of the country that humans have not yet infested. It is the amalgamation of different creatures all finding their voice at once to welcome the first light of day.

The day on which this event usually occurs is the first Sunday in May, many events are held worldwide on this official day of the dawn chorus. One such event was held in Oak park county Carlow on Sunday May 1st. A small gathering, barely a handful of people assembled at the main house in Oak park in order to walk through the woodland area of the park and listen first hand to the dawn chorus.

A number of birds were said to be active during this time of year and participants in the chorus they were;

Robins

• Chaffinches

• Green finches

• Starlings

• Coal tits

• Black birds

• Wrens

• Cuckoo's

• Pigeons

• Blue tits

• Zebra finches

And many more as well as these species.

The group (If the 6 people who showed up could actually be called that) began walking through the woodlands at 5 A.M sharp, just as the chorus was getting into full swing. Walking through a wooded area during the chorus was a rather surreal experience, it was not as if the chorus was being heard it was if you were in the middle of it;

And that is partially due to the fact that you were. Individual sounds were coming from every direction yet they all seemed to blend so elegantly into one.

The walk lasted about an hour and for the life of me i can't recall if one word was spoken throughout the hour. People were far to busy enjoying the sounds of nature resonating around them. As the sun rose so too did the chorus to the point that you almost assumed it would last forever.

Eventually as the party reached the house that they had started from the now ringing chorus began to seem almost normal, as if it had as much a part to play in the park as the trees or the clouds in the sky.

The dawn chorus is truly an enjoyable experience, even if getting out of bed at 4:30 isn't i would highly recommend that everyone who cares at all for nature should attempt to experience the woodlands wake up call at least once.