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 4,000 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.
Bible
With more than 20 English Language translations each available in 25 or more different editions the choice of Bibles excites and bewilders. Choosing the right Bible for you is important - even if you already have more than one.
Spiritual Growth
Long overshadowed by the celebrations of Easter Sunday, Lent is being rediscovered as a sacred time of reflection and renewal in its own right and a time of preparation for the joyous seasonal finale.
Featured
Here’s our pick of the top 3 Stocking Fillers this Christmas. You can find even more at our Christmas Store.
News
Heading to a screen near you soon, The Most Reluctant Convert is a feature-length movie about the life and faith of one of England’s greatest Christian writers and thinkers: C.S. Lewis.
Interview
Feby tells her compelling story in her book Walking Him Home. After wrestling with grief and suffering, she shares how God’s healing and faithfulness is enabling her to step into her new life and ministry.
Featured
We are currently in a strange situation. Bible sales are up, but the number of people reading the Bible is going down. Even stranger, this situation is nothing new. There has always been a difference between the number of people who own a Bible and the number of people who regularly read their Bibles.