Latest news with #DawnChorus
Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Monty Don fires back at complaints about one issue 'spoiling' Gardeners' World
Veteran gardener Monty Don has revealed that Gardeners' World often receives complaints from viewers who can't believe one aspect of the scenes filmed from his garden at Longmeadow A common complaint from viewers of the BBC 's Gardeners' World is the excessive birdsong in Monty Don 's Longmeadow garden scenes. However, the fan favourite gardener has confirmed that it's all completely authentic. On the latest episode of the Gardeners' World podcast, Monty disclosed that many fans are sceptical about the chatty birds in his garden: "We've had a number of letters along the lines of, 'I watch Gardeners' World and I really enjoy it, but it's spoiled for me by the fact that you impose this bird song which is so unrealistic and so over the top... why don't you just record the natural sounds?' "And the answer is; 'I hate to disappoint you, but that is the natural sound'." Monty also mentioned that, at times, even he finds the birdsong overwhelming: "It is really loud. And occasionally when we're filming, we delay filming because the bird song is so loud, that even to us it feels a bit odd and unnatural." Monty and his wife Sarah became the owners of their family abode in October 1991, which, at the time, featured a two-acre field looking rather worse for wear and a smaller neglected area at the front of the house. Longmeadow, nestled amidst vast stretches of farmland, has become a sanctuary for an array of wild birds. Monty highlights the extreme measures of modern farming, including pesticide and herbicide use, that leave avian species starving on barren fields. "So Longmeadow is like, literally an oasis surrounded by not-so-good," Monty said. "We have great density of blackbirds and song thrushes and blackcaps and all kinds of songbirds." Monty admits that these birds create a boisterous symphony: "Round about the first or second week of June, the Dawn Chorus starts about quarter past four in the morning. "We have a fabulous Dawn Chorus that rises to its peak at about five and then it's gone and died down by half past five." He goes on to reveal there's more after the Dawn Chorus, with an evening "Dusk Chorus" as the sun dips: "It's about birds establishing their territory before nightfall," Monty describes. "So you have one blackbird singing really loudly, then another will pick it up and challenge it, and then another in another part of the garden. "And that will go through and that takes you into the dark, and then in the night the owls will call." Monty reveals that making your own patch a paradise for birds is all about leaving things a bit wild, as he puts it: "If you want birds in your garden, the biggest thing you can have is cover, trees, hedges, and shrubs." He points out that features like long grassy areas, a collection of decaying logs, and having a pond will naturally beckon insects which are a siren call to birds after a snack. He elaborates: "Once you've got that, you don't have to do very much at all. It's there. We feed the birds in winter, but that's it."
Irish Independent
01-06-2025
- Science
- Irish Independent
Wexford families roll up their sleeves for ‘bio blitz' at popular OPW site
With the public's assistance, members of the Office of Public Works took to the grounds to collect as much information as possible on the many different plants and animals in the area, but it was a race against time to find and record the various species over just one day. The Bio Blitz took place from 3 p.m. on Friday, May 23 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, and the staff at the park were delighted to see families, nature lovers, and curious explorers of all ages join the expert scientists and naturalists for the guided walks and hands-on workshops. The activities that took place on Friday included a native tree talk; woodland and grassland plants, and a late night bat walk. On Saturday, there was a Dawn Chorus led by Glynn Anderson; an insect safari; bird bingo; Lilliputian Flora, and bees and pollinators; pond dipping, and a meadow walk with head gardener, Kevin Naughton. Speaking about the event, Gerry O'Neill explained that hosting the Bio Blitz 'was all new' to himself and other staff in the park, which was coordinated by the National Biodiversity Centre in Waterford. However, he added, 'it was great to see the turnout, we had great numbers with over 40 people for some of the activities, and we're looking forward to building on those events as people of all ages enjoyed them.' The botanists made their way into areas of the grounds, such as Slieve Coillte, to collect other sample of data while the events were taking place throughout the 24-hour blitz, in an effort to study as much information from the site as possible, given it may have been trickier for the public to access. 'Everyone was so enthusiastic and it was great to see how well the public reacted to the event. It was certainly worth the effort when everyone came together,' Gerry concluded. The official results from the Bio Blitz are still in progress.
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Swindon Festival of Literature returns for 32nd year in a row
A town's festival is back for the 32nd year in a seven day Swindon Festival of Literature begins on Monday and runs until Sunday, with events ranging from readings to open-air festival style performance has run since 1994, including a virtual festival in 2020 because of Covid-19, and focused on not only literature, but performance and Richard Dawkins, poet George Szirtes and impressionist Alistair McGowan were among the names set to appear. The festival's founder, Matt Holland, who still runs it, said: "It's unbelievable - when we started it, we didn't think there'd be 32, but here we are and it's great."There will be a total of 31 events over the course of the week, some of which are free to attend, while others carry an entry first event on Monday is the Dawn Chorus, a free event at 5:30 BST in Lawn Woods near Old Town, with poetry, dance, music and lasts for an hour or more."Of all the events, it brings the biggest variety of people together," said Mr festival also manages to attract some big evolutionary biologist, Professor Richard Dawkins, will appear on Wednesday, as will the Kings Gold Medal for Poetry-winner George comedian Ivo Graham will take to the stage on Friday, as will impressionist Alistair are 26 more events across the week."I defy anyone not to find something they like among the events," said Mr Holland.
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
On International Dawn Chorus Day, how does the weather affect birdsong?
The dawn chorus is one of nature's greatest concerts. There's something calming and magical about waking up to the sound of birdsong - a timeless signal that the day has begun. Sunday 4 May is International Dawn Chorus Day and it's celebrated by people around the world who rise early to appreciate this natural can the weather have an impact what we hear? Why do we love birdsong? Scientists believe that the sound of birds singing makes humans feel safe. The soaring melodies are a reassuring sign that all is well in the environment. When birds fall silent, it can indicate that bad weather is on the way, or that a predator is nearby, meaning the absence of birdsong can feel unsettling - even if we don't consciously realise why. What impact does the weather have? Still, dry mornings are the best to hear the chorus in all its glory. Even during a quiet, steady drizzle, most species will sing much as usualBut according to Daniel Johnson, from the British Trust for Ornithology:"Birds tend to avoid singing in bad weather conditions. This includes windy, rainy or cloudy conditions as during these times they're usually low down conserving energy"A study, external carried out by researchers in the USA also showed that exposure to high temperatures can reduce song production. When is the best time to hear the down chorus? The best time to listen is around 30 minutes before and after sunrise, when birds are most active. On Sunday 4 May 2025, sunrise in the UK ranges from around 05:22 BST in Edinburgh to 05:39 in Cardiff and Belfast, so the ideal time to hear the chorus is roughly between 04:50 and 05:50. You can find out the sunrise and sunset times for where you live on the BBC Weather website or and robins are usually the first to sing, followed by wrens, thrushes, and warblers as the light increases. Why do birds singDawn Chorus: The Sounds of Spring Three easy ways to enjoy the dawn chorus Whether you're heading outdoors or staying cosy at home, there are lots of simple ways to enjoy the dawn chorus this year:1. Open your windowYou don't have to go far, just crack open a window and let the birdsong in. Even in towns and cities, you'll be surprised at what you can hear.2. Take a walkIf you can, head out to your local park, woodland or green space for a peaceful early stroll. The quiet of dawn lets you hear each bird clearly.3. Tune in onlineThe Wildlife Trust and other nature groups often stream the dawn chorus live, so you can enjoy it wherever you are. Just search Dawn Chorus Live Stream on the morning of the event. And don't forget to share your you capture a special early morning view, upload it to BBC Weather Watchers —we love seeing your photos and might even feature them on our site or TV bulletins. And of course don't forget to check the weather where you are. For the most up to date information, check the hour-by-hour forecast where you live on the BBC Weather website or app.
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Celebrate the 2025 Dawn Chorus this weekend
Set your alarm, open a window, and experience the world as it wakes this Sunday, 4 May. From midnight to 7am, RTÉ will be hosting one of the most enchanting and educational broadcasts of the year: RTÉ's live Dawn Chorus. Perfect for nature lovers, early risers, and curious minds, International Dawn Chorus Day will be celebrated through seven hours of uninterrupted birdsong, insights, and music on RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ lyric fm. At the heart of this beloved broadcast is Mooney Goes Wild, RTÉ's long-running nature series that has, for three decades, deepened our national appreciation of the natural world. What began as a creative radio experiment has evolved into Ireland's most ambitious and unique celebration of the natural world—a shared experience that links listeners across the country (and the globe) through the voices of birds at daybreak. Led by presenter Derek Mooney, this year's broadcast will once again centre on BirdWatch Ireland's Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve in Cobh, Co Cork, where presenters Jim Wilson and Niall Hatch will describe the dawn's unfolding in real time. Mooney will host from RTÉ's Dublin studios, guiding us through this auditory journey as birds begin to stir and sing with the rising sun. Meanwhile, long-time contributors Richard Collins, Éanna Ní Lamhna, Eric Dempsey, and Terry Flanagan will beam in from locations across Ireland, capturing local choruses and offering expert commentary on the voices of nature as they emerge. As the first birds warm up around 4am, RTÉ lyric fm adds a musical dimension to the morning's soundscape: Aedín Gormley (Aedín in the Afternoon) delves into the music library to reflect on how composers and songwriters have been inspired by birds and bird song. Lorcan Murray (Lorcan Murray's Classic Drive) brings bird-themed compositions, reflecting his deep appreciation of the links between music and the natural world. Áine Gallagher contributes a meditative set inspired by his Ambient Orbit series, fusing birdsong and ambient textures for a period of sonic calm.
