There's Order and Reason to the 'Chorus of Birds' at Dawn

The Hankyoreh is highlighting an upcoming educational initiative that delves into the fascinating world of soundscapes and the intricate ecological messages embedded within birds' morning songs. Scheduled for May 8-9 at the Gangwon Special Province Nature Learning Center in Wonju, the '2026 Gangwon Area Environmental Education Instructor Capacity Building Workshop: Introduction to Soundscape' promises a unique opportunity for educators and enthusiasts alike.

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The dawn chorus is not just random chirping, but a 'natural orchestra' that reveals the ecology of birds.

Organized by the nature and environment content company 'Holsi Education Research Institute,' this workshop moves beyond traditional environmental education. It embraces the concept of 'Soundscape'—a term coined by Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer—which emphasizes the importance of sound in understanding and improving our environment. This approach, particularly championed by bioacoustician Bernie Krause, involves classifying natural sounds and documenting the soundscapes of diverse habitats worldwide.

The program's focus on the 'Dawn Chorus' is particularly intriguing. Contrary to a simple cacophony, the early morning songs of birds reveal a complex 'natural orchestra' with distinct temporal orders and survival strategies. As explained by Holsi CEO Yang Kyung-mo, birds like thrushes and fairy pittas, with their large eyes adapted for low light, sing earliest to forage in the dim forest undergrowth. Species like tits and warblers join later as daylight increases. This detailed observation offers a profound appreciation for the biodiversity and ecological adaptations within our natural world.

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Birds with large eyes, like thrushes or fairy pittas, start singing first because their eyes can detect even faint light, allowing them to wake up early and forage in the dark forest or on the leaf litter.

Furthermore, the workshop will explore the physics of sound, noting that sound travels up to 20 times clearer in the stable, cool air of dawn compared to midday. This phenomenon, combined with birds' need to assert their health and readiness for breeding after a night without food, contributes to the vibrant dawn chorus. The Hankyoreh believes that such educational programs are vital for fostering a deeper connection with nature and promoting environmental awareness, offering a local perspective on ecological understanding that often gets overlooked in global environmental discourse.

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The reason birds sing in the dawn is that sound travels about 20 times more clearly than during the day, carried by the cool and stable air.