Set your alarms - it's the early bird who hears the very best of nature's spring Dawn Chorus

THERE ARE SOME BIG WELLBEING BENEFITS WHEN OUR NATURAL WORLD IS WAKING UP

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THE RSPB is looking forward to nature’s biggest free symphony as International Dawn Chorus Day returns this Sunday (May 4).

Residents in Cambridgeshire are being reminded to set their alarms early to enjoy the rich experience of nature waking up across the county.

Why do birds sing early in the morning in spring and summer?

RSPB's Morwenna Alldis explained: “International Dawn Chorus Day is a highlight of nature’s calendar.

“As daylight hours increase in the spring, wildlife has one thing on its mind - the need to attract a mate and breed.

“And none announce this primal function more loudly and proudly than male songbirds.

“They start singing as the very first chinks of dawn emerge, to both attract a mate and mark their territories.

“The song they belt out from puffed-up feathery chests is one that signals to all the female birds, ‘look at me, I’m strong and healthy, I survived the night, pick me and I'll give you healthy, strong, survivor fledglings’

“Whilst to all the nearby males their song declares ‘this patch is mine.”