Last updated at 12:29, Monday, 08 March 2010

A new poll suggests that birdsong is the most popular alarm tone, after the traditional beep.

The RSPB claims the number of people choosing birdsong to wake up to was more than double the number who preferred any of 365 other sounds.

Strangely, other traditional early morning sounds such as a car backfiring, all-night revellers returning home and barking dogs did not figure highly on the list.

Perhaps we are happier to be roused by birdsong when its timing is under our control, as when used as an alarm.

Enthusiasm tends to diminish when the song is broadcast without warning and at an earlier hour than we might like.

The RSPB’s Bryan Bland says: “Songs of familiar birds from your garden are extremely relaxing and a gentle, cheerful and positive way to ease into the day.”

Bryan does not sound like a man who has been awake since 5am thanks to a randy pigeon across the street.

We can expect more of this in coming weeks as the dawn chorus reaches its peak in April and May as the songs of resident species are joined by returning summer visitors.

The RSPB organises dawn chorus walks, some of which take place in Cumbria. Details can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/events

Reiver notes that another RSPB event, due to occur in Cumbria this autumn, is an escorted journey to the Martindale valley to witness ‘one of nature’s finest spectacles – the Red Deer rut.’

Would anyone like to be woken by the sound of that?

First published at 11:24, Monday, 08 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk