International Dawn Chorus Day

International Dawn Chorus Day is the global celebration of wild birds.

This year there are events happening from Flakkebjerg to Goworów! People will rise as early as 4:00am and gather in expectant groups to see the sun rise and hear the glorious music of the Dawn Chorus. If the Royal Wedding is all too much, on 1 May there are events across the UK at such wonderful locations as the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Dubwash Silver Meadows and Kielder Castle.

From a single event held by the Wildlife Trust in Birmingham in 1984, it has spread all around the world. A listing of events (over 130 registered for the UK) and around the world, together with a history of International Dawn Chorus Day can be found at www.idcd.info.

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country now co-ordinates this international celebration of birdlife. In 2011 the centrepiece event is a return to the venue of the 1984 event – the Wildlife Trust’s showpiece urban nature reserve, Moseley Bog, Birmingham:

International Dawn Chorus at Moseley Bog – Where it all began!

Sunday 1 May 2011. 4:30 am – 6:30am

This is the very special place where the first public Dawn Chorus Day Event was held in 1984. It was the childhood playground of JRR Tolkien and partly inspired his books “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”. Many places in the books can be linked to landmarks round and about, such as Sarehole Mill. The “Save Our Bog” campaign helped get our organisation established, and was the beginning of the world-wide Urban Wildlife movement. An event not to be missed at a very special place, and this year Moseley Bog has benefited from major improvements to paths and access.

Local naturalist and ornithologist Tony Sames will be on hand to interpret the wealth of birdsong. Meet at the Car Park on Yardley Wood Road. Wear sensible clothes and bring a smile. This year the wonderful new boardwalk and refurbished paths means that mud and puddles area thing of the past.

The even is free – No booking required, just turn up. Bring a picnic breakfast to eat afterwards.