Why summer is full of the songs of birds

Listen closely! In summer you can hear many birds singing. Birds sing for reasons that are easy to understand. Here are the steps that explain why:

1. To say "This is my home" — Birds sing to tell other birds that a place belongs to them. This keeps other birds away from their nest and food.
2. To find a friend — Many birds sing to attract a mate. A happy, strong song can help them find a partner.
3. To take care of babies — When baby birds hatch in spring and summer, parent birds sing and call to help feed and teach them.
4. Longer days = more singing — In summer there is more daylight, so birds have more time to sing and look for food.
5. Lots of food — Summer has many insects and fruit, so birds are active and sing while they eat and fly.
6. Some birds visit in summer — Some birds fly from far away in spring and stay for summer, so you hear more types of songs.

Early morning is often the best time to hear lots of birds singing. People call this the "dawn chorus" because many birds sing together like a big concert.

Fun listening activity

• Go outside with a notebook. Sit quietly for 5–10 minutes.
• Try to hear three different bird sounds. Draw a picture of each sound or write a little word for it, like "cheep," "chirp," or "whistle."
• Count how many times a bird sings in one minute.
• Do this again on another day and see if the songs change.

Safety and kindness

Watch birds from a distance. Do not touch nests or baby birds. Be gentle and quiet so the birds feel safe.

Little rhyme to remember:
Summer mornings, bright and long —
Birds sing loud their happy song.