Why do birds start singing so early in the morning?
Dawn Chorus Day in early May celebrates and encourages people to listen and enjoy the early morning song performed by birds. 'Mooney Goes Wild' presents a special dawn chorus report from Cuskinny Marsh in County Cork.
Dr Richard Collins describes the phenomenon they are listening to as part of the great wave of sound coming to us across Europe.
According to wildlife expert Jim Wilson, birds sing at this time of the day for a variety of reasons. Birdsong is communication within a species, enabling birds to establish who survived the night, and ensures that territory (and therefore their food) is preserved. Birds do not sing at dawn because they are happy, in fact it is quite the opposite and has been described as,
A song of hate.
The structure of a bird’s song, particular to each species, as its own distinctive individual phrases and pauses that allows birds to recognise their neighbours, as well as strangers who may be a potential threat.
'Mooney Goes Wild' broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on 11 May 1997. The presenter is Derek Mooney and the contributors are Jim Wilson, Richard Collins and Éanna Ní Lamhna.
'Mooney Goes Wild' is a popular weekly radio programme that explores the natural world in all its forms.
First broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 in 1993, its informal approach combines studio discussions with a resident panel of experts and invited guests, as well as recorded reports from locations all around Ireland. Listeners' questions are answered and according to presenter and producer Derek Mooney,
"Anything related to the natural world is up for discussion." (RTÉ Guide, 9 May 1997, p.71).
