Notebook
Bird song is one of the bonuses of springtime
The morning chorus of birdsong in springtime can be about much more than just mating.
N
ow that summer is almost upon us, we have the thrill of being
awakened every morning by a chorus of bird song. If you leave your windows open, sleep becomes impossible after dawn. So just what are they singing about?
Most of the vocals at this time of year are about mating, but birds have all kinds of notes and tunes in their reper- toire. Sometimes, they are talking about their territory, sometimes about danger and other times about nothing at all except the joy of singing (at least, so we believe). Birds have mobbing calls, urgently
calling for assembly when they sense danger and even when they find a particularly ripe and juicy cherry tree and feel the need for a party. It is not unusual to see a whole flock of robins
attend such an event and then go reel- ing around the garden as they over- indulge. Young birds learn to sing at about
age 300 days. Birds that never learn to sing are lonely birds, often never being able to attract a mate. Some birds sing duets and some will sing counter songs, one singing one thing and then another responding. Birds can learn new songs. Try play-
ing opera in the garden and you’ll often hear a chorus of birds echoing the beautiful music coming from your speakers. Most singing is done by males. While
a few birds can sing on the wing, most do so from a solid perch. So open your windows and enjoy the
symphony. The loss of a little sleep is worth it!
6
SPRING 2013
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