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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

It's 23:55 and for about the third night running I have a dawn chorus going on outside my window.

Is it just me? Am I hearing things?

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I've noticed loud birdsong in the middle of the night the last two nights. I did wonder whether I just hadn't been listening before...
I've noticed this too over the last few days. Are they putting in longer hours or have they given up by dawn? (I'm not usually awake by that stage.)

No doubt due to the dreadful light pollution in London in general.. The poor things can't sleep because they are programmed to sleep when it's dark.

 

That's why I'm always against any attempts to increase the street lighting anymore than it already is. In fact, it should be reduced, as it's just environmental pollution..

 

But we've had this discussion before.

Yes, mine is a Robin.

I just looked it up and mine is a robin too. It was still going strong at 7.45 too when I woke up. Don't know if it's been on shift all night.

There's an old article about this here that might be relevant:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/apr/25/conservation.uknews

So it's traffic noise that may cause it more than light. Interesting, thanks for the link Sarah
Phew, I'm not going cuckoo then.
Interesting article. Thanks, but I should think that the normal time for Dawn chorus is pretty quiet in most places so I'm not sure whether The Guardian Theory applies here.......or am I  missing something?

exactly,  if it's in the Guardian it must be correct.. :o)

 

So it's carry on with the light pollution then?

I think this is the key passage

Robins sing to attract mates and ward off rivals, and are among the earliest to join the dawn chorus and the last to fall silent at dusk. The robins' songs are slightly higher pitched than the noise from traffic but scientists say increasing urban noise will affect their song being heard.

What you are getting are the last robins to fall asleep, as they compete with the days noise, rather than the first ones to wake up. Light pollution is not discounted in the article, it is acknowledged as part of the issue, but noise levels are also clearly an issue in an area like this where the thunder of traffic goes on way past a birdies bedtime. 

 

Yes also noticed this last week or so. Friday night (or Sat 1:30am to be precise) coming back from pub, noticed birdsong outside Mountview Court on Green Lanes ... very loud! I was wondering if the sudden rise in temperature has confused them (spring time!) after coldest December on record.
Not mentioned (i think) is the effect the recent 'thaw' may have had on local bird behavior. Certainly my Canary (Geronimo) will not sing if it is cold (below 17) and sings lustily, long & loud when i turn the central heating up high (25). Perhaps they've been fooled into thinking spring is here/near by the thaw ?

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