Northumberland Wildlife Trust is inviting everybody to lift their lockdown spirits with the sound of birdsong and celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday 3^rd May.

What started as a small urban event in Birmingham in the 1980s, International Dawn Chorus Day is now celebrated on the first Sunday in May in 80 countries and all across the world people set their alarm clocks early to delight in the sweet sound of birdsong.

Every year the wildlife charity hosts bird themed walks around its reserves on International Dawn Chorus Day where wildlife lovers can listen out for the cooing of pigeons, the serenade of robins and blackbirds and the chatter of sparrows. But t this year, as everybody knows, the world is in lockdown and its events will not be taking place.

But, unbeaten, Chief Executive Mike Pratt will be live streaming the Dawn Chorus from his back garden via Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/northumberlandwt.

From 5:00am onwards, Mike will be talking about the birds everybody can see and hear in their own garden, green space or by leaning out their window and listening.

Mike says: “Each year I have to get up extra early to make the trip to participate in one of our Dawn Chorus Walks, but this year, I just have to walk out the kitchen door and lead our first live streamed event.

“Birdsong has never been a more welcome sound and this year it is clearer than ever due to a huge reduction in noise pollution from car, vans and aeroplanes, so it really is well waking up early and settling down with a cup of tea and listening in to the wonders of nature.”

Anybody wanting to get ahead and see if they can spot the UK’s star performers such as robins, song thrushes and blackbirds can visit: www.wildlifetrusts.org.uk/dawn-chorus-day and listen to short recordings of what each individual bird sounds like.

Spotter sheets and birdy bingo will also be available at www.nwt.org.uk/DawnChorusLive.