Life giving resources. Faithfully delivered.
FREE delivery on orders over £10
Serving over 2 million Christians in the UK
with Bibles, Books and Church Supplies
Our Buy-Now-Pay-Later accounts used
by over 16,000 UK Churches & Schools
Les Ellison
6 May is International Dawn Chorus Day. But what can you learn from the birds that’ll get your day off to a good start?
International Dawn Chorus Day is the worldwide celebration of one of nature's daily miracles and your ideal opportunity to make a new spring start with a new series of morning devotions and get your spirit singing.
Since the first ever Dawn Chorus Day event on Moseley Bog, Birmingham in 1984 more people than ever will answer the call to rise early and listen to bird song in their own gardens and streets and at organised events worldwide.
But why do birds sing? And why do they choose to give their best songs so early in the morning when most people are in bed asleep? And what is it with the spring – if they sang in the winter when sunrise is much later in the morning, wouldn’t more people be able to appreciate it?
Some birdsong is the bird’s way of laying claim to territory. A good territory strongly held gives a bird a better chance of attracting a strong breeding partner and providing them and their offspring with food food. Male birds mark out their territory by singing in it, which tells other males to stay away. Birds leave gaps in their song to listen for replies, so they can discover where any rivals are and where any threats might come from.
In some bird species a large repertoire of song convinces other males that there are a number of birds in the area and that all the territory is spoken for. Female birds listen for strongest and most complicated songs as an indication of the singer’s physical strength and fitness to breed. Females want a male fit and strong enough to provide for her and her chicks when the eggs hatch.
Birds sing at dawn because that’s when the air is usually still and calm. Sound travels further in the morning air and can be up to 20 times more effective than the same song at midday. It’s also a good use of time as there is little else to do in the early morning as the air isn’t yet warm enough for insects to find the energy for flight.
If a male bird hasn’t survived the night, the absence of its song will advertise to others that a territory is vacant and open for conquest. Most female birds lay their eggs in the morning, so for a male to pass on its genes to the next generation, the morning is the best time to attract a mate.
Increasing day length is sensed by light cells sensitive in a bird’s brain. This triggers the bird’s breeding behaviour timed to coincide with peak availability of insects as they feed on the new spring growth of plants. Breeding activity is accompanied by more aggressive attempts to control territory, hold food resources and attract a mate – all of which are reinforced by more vigorous, spring time singing.
Why not look at our article 7 magnificent devotional tips from the birds featuring 7 ideas we can take from the birds to use the early morning hours to get closer to God.
Bibles
Comparing the NRSV vs. the NIV Bible? Our simple guide explains the key differences in accuracy, readability, and style to help you choose the best one for you.
This free lesson plan for Key Stage 2 (KS2) focuses on the story of Noah, delving deeper into themes of consequences, faith, and God's covenant.
Religious Studies
Discover how integrating arts and crafts into Religious Studies lessons can unlock student creativity, deepen understanding, and make learning about faith engaging and memorable. Explore resources for your classroom
Kid's Bibles
Discover how to select the perfect Bible for students at every Key Stage (EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3). Empower young minds with age-appropriate scriptures and encourage a lifelong love for God's Word.
Want to encourage and inspire the students in your class? These ten verses, from the International Children’s Bible (ICB) are perfect for inspiring strength, confidence and hope.
Christian Festivals
Celebrating the artists and authors speaking at this year's New Wine Festival.