Recently, native English speakers have been adopting Scandinavian ideas to improve their well being.
For example:
Hygge: a Danish word referring to a feeling of cosiness or contentment.
Lagom: a Swedish word meaning 'just the right amount' or 'in balance'.
Just in time for spring, we've discovered gökotta. It's a Swedish word meaning 'rising at dawn to listen to birdsong'. Obviously we at the RSPB are most excited about this.
Early starts can be something to groan at, especially when you've got kids to get ready, but the stillness of early mornings mixed with the symphony of a dawn chorus is a true wonder of nature.
And unlike many wildlife spectacles your kids don't need to be quiet because the birds are making such a row anyway.
This Easter, experience a dawn chorus by throwing open the windows and listening from your bed, or get wrapped up and go for the full gökotta experience.
Either way, experiencing it counts towards your Wild Challenge, so why not take one step closer to your bronze, silver or gold award?
Despite their small size, wrens have a loud and distinctive call.
The science of the dawn chorus
What we call the dawn chorus is predominantly birds calling in the early morning to defend a breeding territory, attract a mate or calling to others in a social group.
They choose the early morning because the stillness of the air before the sun starts to warm it means that sound travels more clearly.
It's not just birds that choose this time of day to broadcast their messages. In the tropics some monkeys and apes use their position in the tops of trees and the cool, still air to make themselves heard 20 times further than at later times in the day.
Studies have shown that birds respond to recorded song with responsive or competing calls. So once one bird starts in a given area, it may well set off a cascade until they're all at it!