Birds of a Feather

International Dawn Chorus Day developed as a lay introduction to International Migratory Bird Day, when really serious birders convene to count the various species that pass through the region each spring. But taking part in the dawn chorus requires no special gear, manuals or fancy binoculars. It’s simple, and it’s done all over the world today: The sun rises, the birds sing, you listen. There’s no reason you can’t do this in the comfortable confines of your own home, of course–just fire up the coffeemaker and open your windows. Still, it’s that much more spectacular when you stand out in the morning dew to listen and, just maybe, catch a glimpse of some of our fine feathered friends.

“Right now is the time when birds come back from their winter hideaways,” says Sue Boersma of the Chatfield Arboretum. “Lots of them are on migrational routes, so it’s a good time to see some really neat birds.” Recently she’s spotted white-faced ibises, northern shovelers, wood ducks and snipe at Chatfield, along with the great blue herons and red-winged blackbirds common to the area. And she says the migration season is an especially good time to see a variety of waterfowl. “You can go to a pond and see thirty different species,” Boersma claims.

Though it’s not completely clear why humans are so attracted to the sport of spotting winged creatures, lots of experts point out that it’s just so easy to do. “You don’t go out fish-watching, after all, and mammals are secretive,” says self-professed bird nerd Brad Parks of the Denver Zoo. “Plus, they’re woven through our experience.” He cites poetic references such as the “bluebird of happiness” and symbolic ones like the golden eagle. Boersma’s explanation is less philosophical: Many different species will flock together in the same area, so there’s plenty of variety and activity if you’re willing to be patient. “The attraction is in finding them,” she says. “They’re so hard to see. You recognize them by sound first, then you try to see them. If you can catch them while sitting long enough, especially with binoculars or spotting scopes, you can see some really beautiful animals.”

Doing it early only improves the experience. Dawn is an active time for most wildlife, birds in particular. Ray Sperger of the Carson Nature Center elaborates: “One of the reasons that birds sing in the early morning, even before first light, is to re-establish their territory. They find out if other birds have left the area, and then they can expand their own territory.” At Carson, located in Littleton’s South Platte Park, the day will start out with a small no-egg breakfast of juice and muffins, Sperger says, emphasizing the eggless part. Then it’ll be out into the field, where the main focus will be on birdsong.

It’ll be much the same at other parks and bird centers along the Front Range. But as Boersma notes, there’s more to hear than tweets and whistles. At Chatfield, for instance, you might also hear the elk bugling. “They call it a chorus, and that’s what it is,” she says. “At that time of the morning, everything is singing, including the spring frogs, all the different birds, the animals and the wind in the trees. It’s really an amazing feeling.”

–Froyd

International Dawn Chorus, 6 a.m. May 3. For complete listings, see the Sports & Recreation listings on page 34.