The first Sunday in May is the day we hope for fine weather in the Northern Hemisphere.
This is the day when people get up and visit their local nature reserve for a 4.30am start of an extraordinary experience.
From March, through to April and then into May, the early morning sounds of birds, along woods, meadows and wetlands, have been building up each day and by May its huge.
In March, we have our resident birds singing. Then in April, the migrant singers arrive and start to sing. By the beginning of May, the mixture of resident and new birds is truly amazing.
From 4.30am in the dark, perhaps with some confusing light from nearby street lamps, the wide-eyed resident birds – blackbirds and robins, are already singing. Probably, they have been singing all through the night.
By first light, just before 5am, the other local birds, the wrens have been heard, perhaps with the great tits, and the chaffinches.
Then it's the sounds of the newcomers, the warblers. Blackcaps, chiffchaffs, garden warblers, willow warblers along the woodlands edges. As you get close to the wetlands, the sounds of reed and sedge warblers, with maybe a grasshopper warbler, ring out around you.
Later we hear the thrushes and the dunnocks. Or maybe earlier, everywhere is different.
It's glorious – a wonderful experience. There's no need to see the bird – just be amazed by the sounds around you.
It's Nature's chorus in full swing.
So why does this happen ? Well it has worked for thousands of years.
When the migrating birds arrive in April, the resident birds have already found their nesting and feeding territories and their mates – some say by Valentine's Day, 14th February. It's important for a bird to keep an area just to themselves, as a supply of food.
But then the new birds arrive and they too must find their own space for their food and nests.
Singing is one way a bird can tell their neighbours that this is my space – so keep out.
Also a singing bird can attract a mate. A passing female bird will be on the lookout for a fine singing male. Once two birds are together, the male continues to sing, declaring that this area is no longer empty – please look elsewhere.
Early morning, at first light, sounds travels a long way, and other birds hearing this will respond by keeping away.
There are no insects active yet, not a time for feeding – so why not sing. It so easy for a bird - just breathe in deeply and glorious warbles just emerge from their open mouths.
This is the experience of the Dawn Chorus.
So come and join us this Sunday at Middleton Lakes (and also Sandwell Valley). Look on the websites for details.
So you cannot make it this year – then set your alarm for 4.30am, wake up, open a window and wait for first light, before 5am, and experience a wonderful sound of exhilarated birdlife.