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Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!

Bird thou never wert,

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To a Skylark by Percy Bysshe Shelley - Poems | poets.org

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To a Skylark - Hail to thee, blithe Spirit

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A 2 day journey to re-wild a folk song at its human and avian source.

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BBC Radio 4 - The Turtle Dove Pilgrimage

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A pilgrimage across Sussex tracing the origins of the iconic song The Turtle Dove.

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All over! All over!--Nora, shall you never think of me again?

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act III.

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The Turtle Dove Song was arranged by Vaugh Williams in 1919.

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Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Turtle Dove

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Fare you well my dear I must be gone
and leave you for a while
If I roam away I'll come back again
Though I roam ten thousand miles, my dear

The Turtle Dove Song. 18th C English Folk Song

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Rewild

-to introduce (animals or plants) to their original habitat.

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She is gone.

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act III.

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The 40 year search for the world’s rarest songbird has resulted in the fact that it never actually existed.

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Undated handout photo issued by the University of Aberdeen of a Liberian Greenbul, one of the most elusive species of songbird, which may be so rarely seen because it never actually existed, according to researchers.

One of the most elusive species of songbird may be so rarely seen because it never actually existed, according to researchers.

The Liberian Greenbul was first recorded as being spotted in a forest during the early 1980s, but has escaped the search of experts for decades.

Now University of Aberdeen scientists believe the bird is actually a common Iceterine Greenbul, but with an unusual plumage variant caused by poor nutrition.

Professor Martin Collinson said: "The Liberian Greenbul has gained almost 'mythical' status since it was sighted in the '80s.

"We can't say definitively that the Liberian Greenbul is the same bird as the Iceterine Greenbul but we have presented enough evidence that makes any other explanation seem highly unlikely.

"The genetic work was performed independently by scientists here in Aberdeen and in Dresden to make sure there could be no error - we both came to the same conclusion."

The Liberian Greenbul, which is recorded as having distinctive white spots, has long been one of the world's most poorly known bird species and was listed as Critically Endangered up until 2016.

It has been seen on nine occasions between 1981 and 1984 in the Cavalla Forest in Eastern Liberia.

Cavalla is recognised as an important bird and biodiversity area by BirdLife International, not only for the Liberian Greenbul, but for other threatened species

The only known specimen of the elusive bird was collected there in January 1984 and described as "new to science".

Liberia's civil wars prevented any serious attempt by ornithologists to find any more individuals for another 25 years.

Targeted searches were made in two known areas of sightings in 2010 and 2013, but failed to find any sign of the bird.

It meant the Liberian Greenbul had never been seen since the only known bird was shot.

Experts at the University of Aberdeen have now compared DNA from that specimen with that of the Icterine Greenbul and others.

The study, published in the Journal of Ornithology, found no significant genetic difference between the two species.

Instead, scientists believe it is most likely an unusual plumage variant of the Icterine Greenbul, possibly caused by nutritional deficiency while the feathers were growing.

The Aberdeen study was carried out in collaboration with scientists from the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig in Bonn, Germany, Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden, the University of Cambridge and BirdLife International.

Press Association

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One of the world's most elusive songbirds may never have existed - Independent.ie

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One of the most elusive species of songbird may be so rarely seen because it never actually existed, according to researchers. The Liberian Greenbul was first recorded as being spotted in a forest during the early 1980s, but has escaped the search of experts for decades.

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No, that is just it. You don't understand me, and I have never understood you either.

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act III.

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Further research trips were made to the area in 2010 and 2013, but there was no sign found of the “elusive” songbird, the Liberian Greenbul.

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Nora--can I never be anything more than a stranger to you?

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act III.

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German ornithologist Wulf Gatter believed to have spotted a new species of bird while studying avian life in Liberia. After nine separate sightings, Gatter was able to capture a specimen in 1984, declaring it a new species: Phyllastrephus Iecolepis or the Liberian Greenbul.

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And I would not wish you to be anything but just what you are, my sweet little skylark. But, do you know, it strikes me that you are looking rather--what shall I say--rather uneasy today?

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act I.

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Try and calm yourself, and make your mind easy again, my frightened little singing-bird. Be at rest, and feel secure; I have broad wings to shelter you under. How warm and cosy our home is, Nora. Here is shelter for you; here I will protect you like a hunted dove that I have saved from a hawk's claws; I will bring peace to your poor beating heart.

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act III.

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One of the longest running ornithological monitoring programs in Europe is the Research Station Randecker Maar. It was founded by Dr. Wulf Gatter 50 years ago to gain insight into the seasonal processes of inland bird migration.

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Forschungsstation Randecker Maar e.V. | Vogelzug - Insektenwanderungen

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Forschungsstation Randecker Maar e.V. | Vogelzug - Insektenwanderungen

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We have been married now eight years. Does it not occur to you that this is the first time we two, you and I, husband and wife, have had a serious conversation?

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act III.

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Dr. Sita ter Haar studies speech development in animals and compares it with the process for humans. In the research project 'The 1001 first days of a child's life', she and her fellow researchers are investigating speech development in babies. "Songbirds learn to sing the same way that humans learn to speak."

What do birds have to do with the 1001 first days of a child's life? "We humans are often compared to chimpanzees. Chimpanzees do make sounds, but it is something innate. Songbirds learn song the same way as humans speech: from their parents." This comparison is not new. Darwin established the link between speech development in songbirds and humans almost 150 years ago. Nevertheless, there are very few people who are literally comparing birds and babies in the way that Sita ter Haar and Johan Bolhuis are doing. "There is still a lot to be gained. People who could apply the comparison, such as doctors and psychologists, have often never heard of it."

Speech development is an interdisciplinary subject. You truly need the combination of linguists, biologists, speech therapists, neurologists and psychologists.

Combination of expertise is truly needed

Consequently, Ter Haar is thrilled with her interdisciplinary team on 'The 1001 first days of a child's life' project. "Speech development is an interdisciplinary subject. You truly need the combination of linguists, biologists, speech therapists, neurologists and psychologists." Of course, this type of collaboration can be quite a challenge at times. "Everyone sees things from their particular angle and sometimes that makes it difficult to understand each other." More than anything though, the collaboration is a lot of fun. "Thanks to our collective knowledge, I see things I never would have otherwise. When I learn about someone else's perspective, I start to think differently, too."

Through this collaboration, she hopes to gain insight into what happens in the brain during speech development. That will subsequently provide new information about the learning process. The added value of songbirds in answering this question? "Very little is known about the origins of speech development disorders in humans. It's difficult to separate all factors that influence language development and to see them independently of each other. This is much easier with animals because you can adjust conditions. Also, you can describe something on the cellular level that you generally can't with humans."

The influence of sleep on speech development

Ter Haar is interested in finding out which parts of the brain are involved in speech development, as well as which hormones play a key role. "Canaries, robins and starlings learn songs all over again every year. You can see that the areas in their brains and hormone levels grow during the learning process." She shares these findings with the research team, which plants a seed for follow-up research involving babies. The knowledge exchange works both ways. Ter Haar has been able to validate the results of the study on speech development in babies with birds.

Brain development during the first phase of life in both animals and humans fascinates Ter Haar. "Although the first 1001 days in life differ from person to person, the same basis exists for everyone on certain levels. What is innate and what is learned?" Ter Haar wonders. The 1001 first days of a child's life project focuses on speech development because this is the phase during which babies learn to understand, speak and use their native language.

Your language has a tremendous influence on how you participate in society.

Recognise and intervene earlier

"It is important to learn more about that, for example because speech development disorders are not discovered until a later stage. If we understand the causes of the disorder, we can recognise it at an earlier stage and intervene earlier." Moreover, speech development is connected to everything else. 'If we unravel speech development, we can also better understand motor skills development, for example." This is a socially important theme, Ter Haar believes. "Your language has a tremendous influence on how you participate in society."

Sita ter Haar's first 1001 days

Sometimes I was in a hyperactive, happy playful mood, and other times I could stare dreamily out the window for hours. I was also very stubborn during the first phase of my life, and I still am. My mother still often reminds me of my favourite expression: 'I'll do it myself.' That never changed, but I have since discovered that working together is very important. Like we're doing in this project!

Research theme Dynamics of Youth
If you want to tackle social problems, it would be best to start with children. The Utrecht-based research theme Dynamics of Youth invests in a resilient youth. Academics from all fields collaborate in order to learn to better understand child development. How can we help children and youngsters to grow and flourish in our rapidly changing society?​

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"Songbirds learn song the same way as humans speech: from their parents"

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Dr. Sita ter Haar studies speech development in animals and compares it with the process for humans. In the research project 'The 1001 first days of a child's life', she and her fellow researchers are investigating speech development in babies. "Songbirds learn to sing the same way that humans learn to speak."

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- was this frivolous lady bird thinking so such of fashion ads adornment she could spare no time on homely comfort?

Florence A. Merriam, Birds Through an Opera-Glass (1890) Pg 8.

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To think of his learning my secret, which has been my joy and pride, in such an ugly, clumsy way--that he should learn it from you! And it would put me in a horribly disagreeable position—

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act I.

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Written by a woman for women and young people, the work has been described as "charming, unpretentious, and useful."

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The first modern bird field guide, Birds Through an Opera-Glass (1890) was written by Florence A. Merriam.

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all the same it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning money. It was like being a man.

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act I.

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International Dawn Chorus Day 5th May 2019 - Dutch Contributors 

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International Dawn Chorus Day 5th May 2019 - Dutch Contributors 

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volgende week vieren we samen met diverse europese omroepen weer de internationale dawn chorus day ...

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Volgende week vieren we samen met diverse Europese omroepen weer de Internationale Dawn Chorus Day ...

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International Dawn Chorus Day 5th May 2019 - Live on RTE

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International Dawn Chorus Day 5th May 2019 - Live on RTE

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The countdown is on! Our epic LIVE Dawn Chorus programme will place this year on Sunday, May 5th, beginning at midnight. During our seven-hour journey, we'll travel from East to West, visiting locations from India to Iceland, as we team up with EBU broadcasters and BirdLife International ornithologists to bring you the very best of early morning birdsong from around the world!

Over the coming weeks, we'll be giving you another chance to hear some of our Mooney Goes Wild programmes uncovered from the radio archive here in RTÉ. Please tune into RTÉ Radio 1 Sunday nights at 6pm. Click the links below for more information.

24th March 2019, (6pm), The Dance of the Cuckoos - Mooney Goes Wild Special

31st March 2019, (6pm), The Blue Whale - Mooney Goes Wild Special

07th April 2019, (6pm), Feathers - Mooney Goes Wild Special

14th April 2019, (6pm), Bergen Whale - Mooney Goes Wild Special

21st April 2019, (6pm), Sparrows - Mooney Goes Wild Special

28th April 2019, (6pm), Wildlife Film Makers - Mooney Goes Wild Special

05th May 2019, (6pm), The Wren (More Detail Soon) - Mooney Goes Wild Special
The WhatsApp number to send your Dawn Chorus recording to is:
087 182-8115 (Republic of Ireland) or 00353 87 182-8115 (outside ROI). Fota Island Resort Competition
www.fotaisland.ie.

All you have to do to enter is to tell us the names of these three birds:

Bird #1: photo by Clive Timmons / courtesy of BirdWatch Ireland
Bird #2: photo by Ken Kinsella/ courtesy of BirdWatch Ireland
Bird #3: photo by Michael Finn/ courtesy of BirdWatch Ireland

E-mail your name, answers, contact number and address to mooney@rte.ie. Closing date for receipt of entries is Thursday, May 6th at 23:59. Competition entrants must be over 18 years old. Standard RTÉ Competition Terms and Conditions apply - please click here to read them. Good luck!

E-mail: mooney@rte.ie Facebook: facebook.com/rtenature Twitter: @NatureRTE

On Sunday May 5th 2019, it's International Dawn Chorus Day - and listeners across the globe will once more awake to the sound of bird song, thanks to a collaboration between RTÉ, EBU broadcasters and BirdLife International ornithologists! The programme will begin at midnight and end at 7am - and this year, we've gone bigger than ever! Those taking part in the broadcast this year are:

Country: Ireland

Organisation: RTÉ Radio & BirdWatch Ireland

Location: Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve, Cobh, Cork

Cuskinny Nature Reserve, near Cobh, County Cork, Ireland is managed by Birdwatch Ireland (BWI). The land is privately owned, and comprises about 12 ha of land located along the lower reaches of the Ballyleary Stream on the Great Island in Cork Harbour. The reserve includes a mixture of lake, swamp, grassland and woodland habitats and is of local nature conservation importance. It is also an important local amenity and is used by local schools for educational purposes. For further information about Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve, and the different birds that can be found there, visit www.cuskinnynaturereserve.com. To view more photos of Cuskinny, click here.

On Air: Derek Mooney, Dr. Richard Collins, Niall Hatch

Derek Mooney: One of Ireland's best-known and highly decorated broadcasters, Derek Mooney has been leading the development of wildlife radio broadcasting here for over two decades. His achievements in the natural history field include Habitats, The Nature Line, Nature Trails and Mooney Goes Wild On 1, all for RTÉ Radio 1, BioBlitz Live, Wildtrack and Nature Live on RTÉ TV, and Nature Detectives for the BBC. In February 2015 Derek started his new role as Executive Producer for Nature programming on RTÉ Radio.

Dr. Richard Collins: Born in Limerick in 1944, Richard holds a BE in Electrical Engineering, a BA in Philosophy and English and a PhD in Zoology. He was Honorary Secretary of the Irish Wildbird Conservancy (now BirdWatch Ireland) from 1977 to 1982 and is a BTO bird ringing permit holder. A weekly columnist on environmental topics with the Irish Examiner since 2002, he teaches at the Adult Education Department, University College Dublin, where he is known for his quirky and colourful lecturing style. A former vice-president of Dublin Zoo and a former Governor of Fota Wildlife Park, he joined RTÉ's Mooney Goes Wild team in 1995. Specialist interests include Mute Swan biology, oiled seabird rehabilitation and philosophy of Nature. Ornithological papers published in Waterbirds, Ringing & Migration, Biology & Environment, Wildfowl and Irish Birds. Engineering papers in the Proceedings of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (London), Networks 1995 (Budapest) and Technical Journal (Dublin).

Niall Hatch: A keen birdwatcher since very early childhood, Niall is currently the Public Relations, Branches & Development Officer for BirdWatch Ireland, Ireland's largest and most active conservation NGO, and, amongst other things, is the editor of its Wings magazine. He has worked on bird conservation and public education projects on six continents, and has a special interest in island endemic species and evolution. He is also a qualified solicitor and is well-versed in wildlife protection law. A veteran both of the Mooney Goes Wild panel and the Dawn Chorus, he has a particular passion for bird song. For more information about BirdWatch Ireland, visit www.birdwatchireland.ie.

Key Species: Blackbird, Robin, Song Thrush, Wren, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Goldcrest, Wren, Rook, Hooded Crow, Pheasant, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Swallow. Also - Moorhen, Coot, Little Grebe, Shelduck, Mallard.

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Location: Luttrellstown Castle Resort

On Air: Terry Flanagan & TBC
Left: Terry Flanagan at Luttrellstown and (right) TBC
Terry Flanagan: A trained biologist, Terry is the senior Science teacher in Moyle Park College and has been teaching there for 40 years now. He is also a senior Leaving Certificate Biology examiner. He is responsible for the setting up of Senior and Junior Science clubs in the College encouraging many students to follow a Science career. He has contributed enormously to wildlife organisations over many years. He is a past Secretary of the Institute of Biology (professional biologists in Ireland). Terry is presently the Science and Wildlife reporter on Mooney Goes Wild, and has been since the programme went on air.

Key Species: TBC

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Location: Fota Wildlife Park

On Air: Bláthnaid ní Chofaigh & Sean McKeown

Key Species: TBC

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Location: The Burren

On Air: Susan O'Donoghue

Key Species: Cuckoo

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Location: Donegal

On Air: Liam Loftus

Key Species: Corncrake

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Location: Dublin - Tallaght

On Air: June Rodgers & Fergus Sweeney

Key Species: TBC

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Location: Dublin - Kilmainham

On Air: Rory Cowan & Fergus Sweeney

Key Species: TBC

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Location: Galway

On Air: Dónal Glackin

Key Species: TBC

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Location: Saltee Islands / Ireland's Eye

On Air: Sean Pierce

Key Species: TBC

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Location: Westmeath - Mullingar

On Air: Brendan TBC

Key Species: TBC

Country: Australia

Organisation: EBU - ABC - NEED LOGO

Location: Wamboin, a rural area just outside Canberra - Australia's capital. It's an area of dry bushland, and while there are large chunks of uncleared bush, there are many farms, homes and other developments in the area. This is up in the high country of eastern Australia, right next to a man made dam.

On Air: Dr. Ann Jones. Ann hosts ABC Australia's nature podcast Off Track - and travels the country seeking out the weirdest and most wonderful creatures. She's a field recording specialist with a special love for Australia's birds. To find out more about Off Track, and to listen to or download the podcasts, visit www.abc.net.au.
Dr. Ann Jones; photo: Corey Hague
Key Species: Australian Magpie (Completely different to European or American Magpie. Black and white, highly sociable, special song, also mimic. Dangerous bird); Australian Raven (Large, ubiquitous bird in many Australian landscapes. Long drawn out calls); Crimson Rosella (Small red-velvet coloured parrot, eats seeds, has bell like call and different alarm calls as well as a flight call); Sulphur Crested Cockatoos (Screaming characters of the Australian eastern seaboard. Large white cockie with yellow crest, sociable, unafraid and larrikans); Wood duck (Has adapted to human changed environments - because likes lawns. Needs hollows to nest); Shrike Thrush; Little Friarbird; Domestic chook; Blue Fairy Wren; Red wattle bird; Corella
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australia. (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
Country: Azerbaijan

Organisation: BLI - Azerbaijan Ornithological Society (AOS) - NEED LOGO

Location: TBC - NEED DETAILS & PHOTO

On Air: Elchin Sultanov - NEED PHOTO

Key Species: TBC - NEED DETAILS & PHOTO

Country: Bahrain

Organisation: x

Location: TBC - NEED DETAILS & PHOTO

On Air: Abdul - NEED SURNAME & PHOTO

Key Species: TBC - NEED DETAILS & PHOTO

Country: Cyprus

Organisation: BLI - BirdLife Cyprus

Location: TBC - NEED DETAILS & PHOTO

On Air: TBC - NEED DETAILS & PHOTO

Key Species: TBC - NEED DETAILS & PHOTO

Country: England

Organisation: EBU - BBC Radio Cambridge

Location: Wicken Fen? - NEED TO CONFIRM & PHOTO

On Air: Sue Marchant
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Sue Marchant
Key Species: TBC - NEED DETAILS & PHOTO

Organisation: Independent

Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands

On Air: Chris Baines, the founder of International Dawn Chorus Day. Chris started International Dawn Chorus Day on his 40th birthday back in 1987 and is thrilled that has taken on a life of its own over the years! For more information, visit www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/idcd.
Chris Baines in his garden
Key Species: Great and blue tits, wren, robin, blackbird, wood pigeon and song thrush.
Wren (photo: John Fox / BirdWatch Ireland)
Organisation: Independent

Location: Ipswich

On Air: Donna & Eric Simmonds

Key Species: TBC - NEED DETAILS & PHOTO

Country: Finland

Organisation: YLE (with BirdLife Suomi)

Location: Hyvelänjärvi, Lohja. Every year, the sounds we hear from Lohja are different, because the water situation is different. At this spot we wish to get forest sounds and sounds from shorebirds and waterbirds and geese etc. Hyvelänjärvi, in Nummi, is an agricultural area, and the fields in the area flood during the spring. Many birds like to rest there during their migration.
Hyvelänjärvi, Lohja (photos: YLE producer Asko Hauta-aho)
On Air: Minna Pyykkö (journalist/Finnish broadcasting company YLE) and Jan Södersved (bird specialist/Birdlife Finland)
Minna Pyykkö and Jan Södersved
Key Species: Northern lapwing- töyhtöhyyppä (Vanellus vanellus) or the skylark- kiuru (Alauda arvensis). Other bird species that we are probably going to hear in the Dawn Chorus programme include Black Grouse, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Crane, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Pied Flycatcher, Redwing, Robin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Wagtail, Whooper Swan, Willow Warbler, Wood Pigeon, Woodcock, Yellowhammer

Country: Iceland

Organisation: TBC

On Air: TBC

Location: TBC

Key Species: TBC

Country: India

Organisation: EBU - All India Radio (AIR)

Location: Sattal Bird Sanctuary, Lower Himalayas

Sattal (Hindi for 'seven lakes') is an interconnected group of seven freshwater lakes, situated in the lower Himalayan range near Bhimtal, in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand province in India. The lakes sit at an altitude of 1370 metres below lush orchards in the Mehragaon valley. Set amongst dense forests of oak and pine trees, Sattal is one of the few unspoiled and unpolluted freshwater biomes in India. These lakes are a paradise for migratory birds. It has 500 species of resident and migratory birds, 20 species of mammals, over 525 species of butterflies and over 11,000 species of moths, beetles, bugs and other insects. The unique avian fauna of Sattal includes red-billed blue magpie, plum-headed parakeet, crimson-breasted woodpecker, crested serpent eagle, and blue-eared kingfisher, and many more!

On Air: Sunit Tandon (Presenter), Dr. Surya Prakash (Zoologist), Pankaj Gupta (Bird Expert), Hari Lama (Birding Guide in Himalayas)

Sunit Tandon: Sunit is a veteran news and current affairs anchor on Indian national television and Radio. He had been the Director General of Indian Institute of mass communication and journalism and presently the Director at India Habitat Centre. He is also active as theatre director and actor with about 150 productions to his credit. He had been the Director of Yatrik New Delhi's oldest theatre group.

Dr. Surya Prakash: a passionate nature lover and avid birdwatcher, he joined Jawaharlal Nehru University, in Delhi, in July 1985 and ever since exploring the campus in his leisurely time. Today he has made the data bank of almost all birds ,reptiles, mammals, butterflies and of course the native species of ridge trees of the JNU campus but also of entire southern ridge. Apart from rescuing stressed wild animals he, organizes nature trails, awareness programs, illustrated talks and issues related to conservation of Mother Nature within and outside the campus. Honorable LG -Delhi & WWF-India have felicitated him and appreciated his work and efforts for restoration of Sanjay Van & other conservation efforts.

Pankaj Gupta: Pankaj has been actively bird watching since 2008 (about 11 years). He does volunteer work as a Reviewer and Hot spot Manager for Ebird (NCR Zone). Ebird is a citizen since programme managed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology (USA). With the help of Delhibird foundation, he has been highlighting and fighting for Environmental causes in Delhi & NCR region. He has started two Facebook pages dedicated to Birds and their habitat. Birds of Delhi and Surrounding Birds and Birds Habitat of Delhi and Surrounding. And also am Admin for few other groups like Indian Birds, Ask IDS of Indian Birds. He regularly leads bird walks for other birdwatchers and School. Have done multiple walks for WWF and BNHS.Dr.Surya Prakash, Ph.D. (Zoology), Member- BNHS, IBCN, WWFHari Lama : Birding Guide Extraordinaire

Hari Lama: Born in Nepal, Hari Lama has been birding since ages in Nepal and Northern India. He has excellent command of birds in the region and hence guides birders from India and Overseas every year. He has many years of experience and knows the area of his study very well. His greater interest is working as freelance guide in Northern India. He can speak and understand English, Hindi and Nepali.

LOGO OF EXTERNAL SERVICE DIVISION OF ALL INDIA RADIO

Key Species: Night Jar, different varieties of owls.

Country: Israel

Organisation: Independent

Location: Jerusalem Bird Observatory - PHOTO NEEDED

I have a number of key "bird people" friends in Israel, and one in particular ( Amir Balaban) who is a very experienced broadcaster and who helps to run the bird observatory beside the Knesset in Jerusalem. He speaks excellent English. He is also involved with a very interesting cross border bird conservation project, with farmers in Jordan and Israel collaborating to increase barn owl populations as a way of reducing pesticide use on both banks of the Jordan river.

If you would be interested in adding Jerusalem to the schedule I am sure he would be good value, and Israel is world class in terms of bird migration, as I am sure you know. Let me know if the idea appeals, and I will encourage him when I am there.

On Air: Amir Balaban - PHOTO NEEDED

Key Species: PHOTOS NEEDED IF AVAILABLE

The JBO is ideal for song birds and we can expect a few typical song birds such as Yellow vented bulbul (endemic), Palesine sunbird (endemic), Great tit, Green finch and Palm dove. These can be heard well at dawn. I can be in the JBO around 5 am to record and talk about the birds. There are no Barn owls in Jerusalem so they are less relevant.

Country: Italy

Organisation: Independent / BLI - FAI

Location:

On Air:

The name of Laura Cuccia's assistant is Carlo Franchi. He has been working at Bosco St Franceso for 9 years. He is 37, born in Wales, his Father from Assisi, his Mother Welsh. He moved to Assisi as a young child and then returned to Wales to work as an adult in the hotel business but after the banking crisis , returned to Assisi. He is also a photographer but is NOT an ornithologist. He works closely with the director and ornithologist Laura and will be informed by her. I had a brief conversation with him yesterday to introduce myself and tease him out a bit. I'm a bit uneasy that he is not as fluent as Laura thinks he is but am also keenly aware that it was a whats app conversation, first time talking to me with my Northern accent etc. SO Michela , my volunteer ( and language teacher) on the ground is going to talk with him in English again tomorrow and suss him out further. I suggested to him we could do a 'dummy run' some morning when I am out there and he was up for it.( I'll be there from 28th April). I forwarded him the RTE websites of previous Dawn Chorus.

Below, pic of Michela with her hat! Don't be fooled by the wee girl image. She is one smart woman and a brilliant linguist! But anyhow she was delighted to get her hat. Thanx.

Key Species:

I come with a list of migratory species that frequent the Bosco di San Francesco which I could talk in the interview:

Honey Buzzard - Pernis apivorus

Pigeon - Columba palumbus,

Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur

Hoopoe - Upupa epops

Nightjar - European Nightjar

Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos

Redstart - Phoenicorus phoenicorus

Bonelli's Warbler - Phylloscopus bonelli

Subalpine Warbler - Sylvia cantillans

Golden Oriole - Oriolus oriolus

Of course it does not mean that I will discuss them all, but these are the most representative species of the environments that are at the Bosco di San Francesco, with regard to migratory species.

I am working on environmental characterization board of the Woods, I would like you to send between today and tomorrow if that's all right.

Finally, in early May the sun in Assisi rises at around 6:00 or 5:58 on May 4, considers that the property is in a narrow and steep valley with the North-South trend so the sun reaches it later.

With years of experience in the field, I'm part of a group of ornithologists who perform monitoring on for 20 years Umbria, I can advise how best time to make recordings of songs from dawn to maximum at 9:00 AM.

Country: Kazakhstan

Organisation: BLI - ACBK

Location: TBC

On Air: Ruslan Urazaliyev

Key Species: I think about the Black Lark. This species is one of the typical steppe birds. They have very interesting facts about their biology and ecology. Another one is White-winged Lark. I would like to focus on them because they are good singers (especially Black Lark).

Country: Kenya

Organisation: BLI - Nature Kenya (the EANHS)

Location: Karara

On Air: Edwin Gichohi & Edson Mlamba

Key Species: TBC

Country: Lithuania

Organisation: EBU - LRT

Location: Lake Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve

Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve, located in the southern part of the country, is the first protected area of Lithuania, and was established more than 80 years ago. It is home to several lakes, wetlands, mires, peat bogs and pine forests. A great variety of habitats makes this reserve very rich in biodiversity. Lake Žuvintas and surrounding areas are important breeding and feeding grounds for numerous protected bird species such as Eurasian Bittern, Common Crane, Spotted Crake, Aquatic Warbler and others.

On Air: Vaida Pilibaityte, Arunas Pranaitis & Marius Karlonas
Ornithologists Marius Karlonas and Arunas Pranaitis with host Vaida Pilibaityte
Host/ Reporter/Producer: Vaida Pilibaityte is an award-winning Lithuanian public radio journalist and feature producer. She produces a weekly program on environment and nature on LRT RADIO. This is her third year hosting the Dawn Chorus from Lithuania.

Bird Expert 1: Arunas Pranaitis is a biologist and nature conservation expert, member of Birdlife Lithuania. He is the head of the Zuvintas Biosphere Reserve, where LRT is broadcasting the Dawn Chorus from. Arunas has authored and co-authored a number of scientific articles and books on bird ecology and conservation in Lithuania.

Bird Expert 2: Marius Karlonas is an ornithologist, nature educator and guide, member of Birdlife Lithuania and author of birdwatching guidebooks. He joined the Dawn Chorus broadcast team in 2018.

Key Species: Savi's Warbler, Great Bittern, Thrush Nightingale
Savi's Warbler (Photo by Mathias Schaef/McPhoto/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Country: Northern Ireland

Organisation: EBU - BBC Radio Ulster & BBC Radio Foyle with RSPB NI

Location: WOW - Window on Wildlife and it's within the harbour estate in Belfast.

Belfast's Window on Wildlife is 4.5 miles from Belfast city centre, located in Belfast Harbour Estate and looking out on to Belfast Lough. RSPB took over management of the site in 1998. The site is designated as a Special Protection area and Ramsar site, as well as an Area of Special Scientific Interest. The Belfast WOW centre was opened to the public in 2015 and offers spectacular and up-close views of birds, including the star species here: the black-tailed godwits. Belfast Lough provides a seasonal home for birds from all over the world. A wet grassland site of 13 hectares overlooking an open lagoon, the main attractions are wildfowl and wintering waders, while raptors are often spotted on site too. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded here.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/belfasts-window-on-wildlife/

On Air: David Maxwell (reporter) & Claire Barnett (bird expert)

David Maxwell is an experienced presenter and reporter with BBC Northern Ireland. For a decade he reported for BBC Newslinebefore making a move to one of BBC Radio Ulster's most popular programmes - Gardeners' Corner. Taking on this role has allowed him to indulge his passion for gardening and share wonderful gardens in Ireland and Britain with the large listenership.

Claire Barnett has been working for RSPB NI since 2006 but has been listening to and monitoring birds since she was a teenager. Growing up on a farm, she happily started her RSPB career giving advice to farmers to create more wildlife-friendly spaces on their land. Now a Conservation Team Leader, her expertise has increased to cover a wide range of bird species who depend on different habitats.

Key Species:

Blackcap
The blackcap is a distinctive greyish warbler, the male has a black cap, and the female a chestnut one. Its delightful fluting song has earned it the name 'northern nightingale'. Although primarily a summer visitor, birds from Germany and north-east Europe are increasingly spending the winter in the UK.

Chiffchaff
The chiffchaff is a small olive-brown warbler which actively flits through trees and shrubs, with a distinctive tail-wagging movement. Although not always the case, chiffchaffs often have dark legs and a short pale eye stripe, whereas the willow warbler - a very similar looking species - has pale legs and a long yellow eye stripe. It is readily distinguished by its song, from where it gets its name. It picks insects from trees and also flies out to snap them up in flight.

Common tern

These delightful silvery-grey and white birds have long tails which have earned them the nickname 'sea-swallow'. They have a buoyant, graceful flight and frequently hover over water before plunging down for a fish. They are often noisy in company and breed in colonies. The common tern is the tern species most likely to be found inland.

Sedge warbler
The sedge warbler is a small, quite plump, warbler with a striking broad creamy stripe above its eye and greyish brown legs. It is brown above with blackish streaks and creamy white underneath. It is a summer visitor, and winters in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. Its song is a noisy, rambling warble compared to the more rhythmic song of the reed warbler.

Song thrush
A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers have declined markedly on farmland and in towns and cities. It's smaller and browner than a mistle thrush with smaller spotting. Its habit of repeating song phrases distinguish it from singing blackbirds. It likes to eat snails which it breaks into by smashing them against a stone with a flick of the head.

Swift
The swift is a medium-sized aerial bird, which is a superb flier. It evens sleeps on the wing! It is plain sooty brown, but in flight against the sky it appears black. It has long, scythe-like wings and a short, forked tail. It is a summer visitor, breeding across the UK, but most numerously in the south and east. It winters in Africa.

Country: Poland

Organisation:

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Key Species: Aquatic Warbler

Country: Portugal

Organisation:

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Country: Scotland

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Country: Slovenia

Organisation: EBU - RTVSLO

On Air: have logo, have pics, have location pic need bird pic

Andreja Gradišar, reporter

Andreja Gradišar joined the team of Radio Slovenija 1 when she was still a student. In recent years she has worked there as a journalist and a morning show host. Her topics of interest include underprivileged people, social themes and the Middle East. She prepares shows about animals, including birds, and her favourite bird is a Eurasian eagle-owl living in a cellar of a block of flats in Maribor, the second largest Slovenian city.

Tomaž Jancar, bird expertOrnithologist Tomaž Jancar is chief science consultant in the Notranjska Regional Park. He is a chemical engineer by profession, a great lover of nature and a keen mountaineer. As a child he spent a lot of time in nature with his family and has been interested in birds ever since. Since 1980 he is a member of the DOPPS Birdlife Slovenia, where he was employed for fifteen years: four of which as a director, and in the end as head of the sector for bird conservation. While monitoring birds, he discovered that many species of birds, particularly those nesting in the grass, are severely endangered by agriculture and that a number of them are at the brink of extinction (for example the Eurasian curlew or the corncrake), which prompted him to become actively involved in the planning of Slovenian agricultural policies. He says it is difficult to choose one bird as his favourite, but has decided on the corncrake, because in recent years he has devoted his time to studying it. He also runs yearly surveys on its population numbers in Slovenia.

Location:

Cerkniško jezero (just for you: jezero means lake in english)

Lake Cerkniško jezero is one of the largest intermittent lakes in Europe. It appears every year on a karst plain, called Cerkniško polje, and disappears again during the dry season, so it is possible to paddle, fish, hike or mow grass all in the same area within the same year. The lake was first mentioned in Roman times by Pliny the Elder and has been included on the maps of Europe since the 15th century. Local communities have strong ties to the intermittent lake; the abundance of fish has attracted people and provided them with food since the Stone Age. Intermittent lake Cerkniško jezero is the heart of Notranjska Regional Park and was designated a Ramsar site together with picturesque karst valley of Rakov Škocjan and underground marvel Križna jama cave which ranks 4th in the world in diversity of cave fauna.

Biodiversity of Cerkniško jezero wetlands is extraordinary as well. Over 100 bird species nest in the area while more than 270 different birds were spotted here representing ¾ of all bird species ever found in Slovenia. The lake is one of the two nesting sites for endangered bird species such as common snipe, red-necked grebe, ferruginous duck, northern shoveler, redshank and Eurasian curlew. The park's forests are home to rare Eurasian three-toed woodpeckers, hazel grouses, Ural and Boreal owls, and in the spring, we can listen to the sounds of the globally endangered corncrake.Shy Black Storks and magnificent White-tailed Eagles hunt in this wetland of international importance and raise their young in extensive beech and fir forests of Javorniki mountains.

As the importance of the intermittent lake for the endangered bird species goes far beyond Slovenia's borders, lake Cerkniško jezero has been designated as a Natura 2000 Site also. It is also home to 45 mammal species (½ od all mammal species found in Slovenia), 125 butterfly species (over 2/3 of all Slovenia's butterflies) can be spotted there and 15 amphibian species (over 2/3 of Slovenia's species).

Key Species:

- Nightingale

- Yellow wagtail

- Reed bunting

- Yellowhammer

- Common whitethroat

- Blackcap

- Blackbird

- Great tit

- Common Chiffchaff

- Tree pipit

And we are especially hoping to hear corncrake and great bittern, because they are very hard to find anywhere else in Slovenia.

Country: Wales

Organisation: EBU - BBC Radio Wales

On Air:

Lynn Bowles spent 17 years at BBC Radio 2, the most popular radio station in Europe. She helped wake up the nation with such radio greats as Ken Bruce, Chris Evans and not least Sir Terry Wogan. Lynn says of him "He was the best. A joy to work with, funny and charming. I doubt we'll see his like again". Luckily she is well used to getting up early in the morning to broadcast which means charting the Dawn Chorus will be a pleasure.

Daniel Jenkins-Jones has been a lifelong birdwatcher and has worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and is a local Ambassador for the British Trust for Ornithology. He is a familiar voice on BBC Radio Wales and, in the Welsh language, on BBC Radio Cymru, talking about birds and the natural world".

Location:

RSPB Ynys-hir - woodlands, wetlands and wonderful wildlife.

RSPB Ynys-hir is a real gem in the heart of the Dyfi Estuary - a serene wetland paradise just waiting to be explored whatever time of year you visit.

In springtime a walk through the woods will reveal a carpet of bluebells and a chorus of birdsong. Lapwings; pied flycatchers; redstart; red kites and ospreys all await you.

In winter the saltmarsh and river are alive with waders, ducks and geese, and it's not just birds that call Ynys-hir home. A visit to the freshwater pools may be rewarded with otters swimming and playing in the pools or along the bank on sunny warm days, lizards and dragonflies can be spotted.

It's the perfect place to spend time with family and friends in the great outdoors and getting up close to nature. Make sure you also call into our Visitor Centre to pick up an explorer kit and have a go at pond dipping - children will have so much fun discovering all kinds of interesting creatures. After visiting the hides - find the ideal spot for a picnic or relax in our Visitor Centre, with a cup of coffee and home-made cakes.

rspb.org.uk/ynys-hir

01654 700222

SY20 8TA

Key Species:

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Contributors To Dawn Chorus 2019 - Mooney Goes Wild - RTÉ Radio 1

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LIVE Dawn Chorus 2019 The countdown is on! Our epic LIVE Dawn Chorus programme will place this year on Sunday, May 5th, beginning at midnight. During our seven-hour journey, we'll travel from East to West, visiting locations from India to Iceland, as we team up with EBU broadcasters and BirdLife International ornithologists to bring you the very best of early morning birdsong from around the world!

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Birdsong at dusk in England, Nightingales, Hammerwood June 2013

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Late in the afternoon there is a pause and hush. The birds have ceased flying till dusk, and are either standing still or walking over the ground. One I can see motionless amidst the brown, tufted grass. No, not quite motionless. Ever and anon there comes the strained, grating call-note of another peewit, and then this one rears up the body and jerks the head a little back, then jerks it flexibly forward again. At first he does this in silence, but soon answering the cry.

Edmund Selous, Bird Watching, (1901) Chapter 2.

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Goodnight, my little singing-bird. Sleep sound, Nora. Now I will read my letters through.

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act I.

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She, however, turned from him, walks on, appearing to be busy in feeding. The male takes, or affects to take, little notice of this repulse. He pecks about, as feeding too, but in a moment or so walks up to the hen again, and now, raising his wings to the fluttering height only, flutters them tremulously as before.

Edmund Selous, Bird Watching, (1901) Chapter 2.

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Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouth.

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act I.

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These little birds have both a nuptial flight and a courting action on the ground. In the former a pair will keep crossing and recrossing as they scud about, or they will sweep towards and then away from each other in the softest and prettiest manner imaginable, or each will sweep first up to a height and then swiftly down again and skim quite low along the ground, thus delighting the eye with the contrast.

Edmund Selous, Bird Watching, (1901) Chapter 2.

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Good evening, Siobhan and Harald! Just passing by your rooms to drop off the link below. (I particularly like that this website is called "Living with Birds")

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21 Facts on Skylark - Tweetapedia - Living with Birds

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The critically endangered Raso lark is a close cousin of the skylark; it is found only on one very small island in the Cape Verde group, where the population numbers around 100 birds.

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I have alluded to the aerial combats of the stock-dove during the nuptial season as elucidating similar movements on the part of the peewit, though I was not able so fully to satisfy myself as to the meaning of these in the latter bird.

Edmund Selous, Bird Watching, (1901) Chapter 1.

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And I would not wish you to be anything but just what you are, my sweet little skylark.

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act I.

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The term "birdwatching" appeared for the first time as the title of Selous' book "Bird Watching" in 1901

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An advocate of non-destructive bird study Edmund Selous pioneered bird-watching as a method of scientific study.

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Click to access Billy, The Bookcase.

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The physiology and acoustics of bird vocalisation are unique in the animal kingdom.

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The same little featherhead!

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act I.

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A British Library sound recording of a skylark's song, recorded in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

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Is that my little lark twittering out there?

Henrik Ibsen,  A Doll's House, (1879) Act I.