Songbird Saturday

Nature’s music

Learning birdsong is a tranquil kind of magic. It invites you to step outside, slow down and tune in to a wild world that’s always been there - singing above you, around you, and sometimes just beyond your perception. As you begin to recognise each voice, familiar places take on new depth: the cheerful trill of a wren threading through a morning walk, the clear whistle of a blackbird marking the day’s turning, the soft coos, chirrs, and warbles that reveal hidden lives in the hedgerow.

Nature for wellbeing

Birdsong is so much more than mere sound; it’s a profound connection with nature. Magical as birdsong for birdsong’s sake is, the experience is further enriched when you’re able to match the melody up with the musician. It changes the way you perceive the landscape and you become more aware of seasonal changes, more attuned to subtle shifts, more present in the moment. That presence nourishes wellbeing. It draws you out of your thoughts and into the natural world, where attention becomes calm, and curiosity becomes joy.

And the beauty is, anyone can learn, at any age. You don’t need any special equipment or expertise, just open ears, a little patience, and a willingness to listen. In return, birds offer something extraordinary: a daily soundtrack that steadies the mind, lifts the spirit, and reminds you that you’re part of something bigger, wilder, and wonderfully alive.

Birdsong for beginners

If you’re new to birdsong identification, it can seem a little daunting knowing where to start. But the good news is that, with technology such as high quality audio-recording equipment and bird identification apps such as Merlin, there’s never been a better time to learn. And while you can start at any time in the year, winter is a good time to start as there are less birds around and singing so it’s generally easier to get your ear in and get a few songs in the bag before springtime when the full avian orchestra will be delighting with the dawn chorus.

To help you on your journey of discovery, we’re going to be playing you the song of a different songster on our social media channels for our new weekly #SongbirdSaturday special. If you don’t already follow us, why not find us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube and give us a follow? 

We’ll be updating this webpage weekly too, with a longer version of the recording so you can listen at your own pace, along with tips and tricks so you know what to listen out for.

Magical as birdsong for birdsong’s sake is, the experience is further enriched when you are able to match the melody up with the musician.

For those who don’t know their Blackcap from their Blackbird, this might seem daunting, but winter is the perfect time to start learning birdsong. There are fewer birds around and singing, enabling you to get your ear in and really focus on the ones that are vocal.

Local birdsong for local people

Not only have all the birdsongs we’ll be playing been recorded right here in the county, they’ve all been captured and carefully edited especially for Songbird Saturday by one of our wonderful volunteers, Martin Neil – a perfect example of the myriad of different forms volunteering for Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust can take!  

We’re very keen for all our supporters to get involved in Songbird Saturday though, so if you’ve captured some birdsong on your camera-phone, or you’ve snapped a pic, then do share it on socials and tag us and include the #SongbirdSaturday hashtag. Similarly, if you have a beloved birdsong you’d like us to feature then do let us know – we’d love to hear from you.

And of course, if you’d like to use your new-found skills to help local wildlife, do consider recording the birds you identify, via our website or an app such as Birdtrack or iRecord, and help ensure birdsong is a simple pleasure people can can continue enjoying.