Dawn Chorus

[Barquentine]

Does anyone know why birds sing first thing in the morning? I'm sure I heard a Radio 4 interview with someone who said that the birds store up energy overnight and sing to lose weight when they wake up. This sounds hilarious I know and everyone laughs at me but I'm convinced that's what this ornithologist said! Anyway, why DO they sing in the morning?

[smudge]

I think it's because they can see all the worms heads, or bottoms, popping up in the ground.

Go get 'em guys!

[Gormless]

I like to believe that it is simple exultation that the night is over. It's a lovely sound anyway.

[sn�gged]

''One of the common, but inadequately studied, explanations for the occurrence of the dawn chorus is based on the rationale that atmospheric turbulence, which impairs acoustic communication, is least at dawn, and thus singing at dawn in some way maximizes signal performance.''

[Avatar]

But they only sing in the morning during the spring months in most cases, and then its only the males, so that's that ridiculous theory obliterated in one fell swoop.
Now, what possible reason would males have for singing in the spring months I wonder?

[Gormless]

Robins sing all night.

[paddywak]

I'm with Gormless, i like to think they are just singing for the hell of it. What ever the reason I'm always out and about early in the morning just me Max and the birds singing, it's the best part of the day

[Barquentine]

Thank you Avatar! I'll just have to look for a different diet plan now. Mind you, all my singing to lose weight has brought unexpected benefits! :)

[carrust]

Robins are one of the few birds that sing all-year-round. The reason for this is because they live in the same territory all year. They also sing at night usually near to street lamps...they think it's daylight.

[DaisyMae]

I always understood that birdsong was a territorial declaration, some of the time it is to attract a mate and some of the time to warn off intruders. It certainly isn't to lose weight, birds are often under rather than over weight and can find it very hard in the winter to find enough to eat to maintain body temperature through the long nights when it is cold. I agree it is one of the joys of nature though and it signals the onset of spring and the warmer weather.

Robins are extremely territorial and will often fight to the death to defend a small area.