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Thousands of People to take part in Dawn Ritual

Thousands of People to take part in Dawn Ritual

In the days around 4 May this year thousands of people across the UK and around the world will be rising before dawn and journeying to a local wood or other special wild place. No, it isn't some strange druidic cult that is encouraging people to get up so early the 4 May is International Dawn Chorus Day!
Participants will get to hear the full glory of nature's daily miracle, the dawn chorus of birdsong that greets the rising day. In most cases they will finish up with a hearty breakfast and hot drinks.   International dawn chorus day first began in the 1980's when the broadcaster and environmentalist Chris Baines held the first dawn chorus event on his 40th birthday in the West Midlands. Since then international Dawn Chorus Day has been co-ordinated by the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust and this year BBC Breathing Places is helping to support events across the country.
This year over 250 dawn chorus events are taking place in parks and nature reserves across the whole UK, with more across the globe.
Internationally, events are happening in such far-flung places from Sri Lanka, to Canada. In the United States the 'Friends of Congaree Swamp' hope to catch the song of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker once thought extinct, but recently rediscovered in the swamps of South Carolina. In Germany, a small boat will set out from Cologne, to record seabirds for the City's sound-map. In Brazil a bird fair will take place in São Paulo.  
The UK events are being run by many local conservation groups, as well as councils and national conservation organisations such as The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, National Trust, Forestry Commission, BTCV, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and the Woodland Trust.   Each event is organised locally and has an expert on hand to interpret the rising crescendo of birdsong. No one needs to be an expert to take part, and most events are family friendly. Many are free or only charge for breakfast.
Anyone wishing to find out about their local event should go to the International Dawn Chorus Day website: www.idcd.info which also features information about past Dawn Chorus events.  
Neil Wyatt, Chief Executive of Birmingham Black Country Wildlife Trust and International Dawn Chorus Day co-ordinator says: "The success of International Dawn Chorus Day is extraordinary. Many people who take part have never heard the dawn chorus properly before, and when they hear the amazing variety and intensity of birdsong, it just blows them away! If anyone has doubts about getting up so early, I can assure them it really is worth the effort!"  
Ends   For further information please contact:   Neil Wyatt, Chief Executive the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country, Tel: 0121 454 1199, email neil.w@bbcwildlife.org.uk Adam Cormack, communications and campaigns officer, Tel: 01636 670063, email acormack@wildlifetrusts.org Anna Guthrie senior press officer, Tel: 01636 670075, Email: aguthrie@wildlifetrusts.org   Images: High resolution images of birds are available on request.   Editors' notes:  

  The Wildlife Trust is the local charity working to make Birmingham and the Black Country a better place for wildlife and people. We have projects across the area working with decision makers, communities, schools and conservationists. Founded in 1980 we have over 5000 members across the area.  
  There are 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. We are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.  With 726,000 members, we are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK's habitats and species, whether they be in the countryside, in cities or at sea. 135,000 of our members belong to our junior branch, Wildlife Watch.  We manage 2,200 nature reserves covering more than 84,000 hectares; we stand up for wildlife; we inspire people about the natural world and we foster sustainable living.    

Published on 23/04/2008

There are 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man & Alderney. We are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.