BirdWatch Ireland
West Cork Branch
Protecting birds and biodiversity in West Cork
Dawn Chorus
Sunday 13th May 2025
This year are holding our Dawn Chorus event on Sunday 4th May, International Dawn Chorus Day. This is the day when wildlife enthusiasts, not just in West Cork, but around the globe, set their alarm clocks a little earlier than usual and go out to enjoy a morning of beautiful birdsong. It goes without saying that this is not the only day on which to experience the marvel of the dawn chorus; the birds will be in full voice throughout early summer, and the best time to hear them is in the twilight period just before the sun comes up. What is special about the period just before dawn is the sheer number of birds that are singing and the high volume of their songs. People who have never before experienced a full dawn chorus in a woodland park, or even a well-wooded garden, are often astonished by how many birds seem to be involved. You might think that you have a lot of birds in your garden or local park, but until you hear the dawn chorus you honestly have no idea how many are there.
Guided dawn chorus events are always very popular and are ideal for beginners, so why not come along and see what all the fuss is about? This year, we are once again grateful to the owners of Liss Ard Estate for hosting the Dawn Chorus. The event starts at 4:30am so alarm clocks are a must. Access is by the main gate on the Castletownsend road south east of Skibbereen. Parking marshals will provide directions from there.
This event is free of charge and open to everyone and will be led by Jez Simms. The walk will be mainly on hard surface paths, and it will last an hour or so. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as is warm clothing. After the walk, breakfast rolls with complimentary tea or coffee will be available for €8 (cash only please). This is an ideal time to meet other Branch members and find out more about the Branch and BirdWatch Ireland while enjoying your well-earned breakfast.
For further details, please call Nicholas Mitchell on 087 121 5256, e-mail treasurer@birdwatchirelandwestcork.ie