Birdsong can be good for keeping children alert. An experiment at a primary school in Liverpool found that playing pupils a soundscape of birdsong and other natural sounds made them more alert and better able to concentrate after their lunch break. Introducing young babies to birdsong is a fun way to combine exploring the outdoors with an early exposure to forms of music.
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Birdsong audio (optional)
Step 1
Step outside and listen to the birds – the best time of day is around sunrise or sunset. See whether you can identify the sounds of more than one species.
Step 2
Imitate the sounds of the birds you can hear. Encourage younger children to practice these sounds, or see whether they can repeat them back to you.
Step 3
See whether you can identify which species of birds are making the sounds. Listen out for simple calls, like the ‘coo roo-c’too-coo’ or ‘oh-oo-oor’ of a pigeon. You may want to listen to examples of birdsong audio to help you identify different calls and songs.
Step 4
By recording or repeating the sounds heard, see if you can put together your own ‘dawn chorus’ of birdsong. It can be repetitive, like chanting the sounds, or without rhythm – that’s the beauty of birdsong!
