ARLY risers can have front row seats for a musical performance on Sunday, which is International Dawn Chorus Day.

The programme will begin with an introduction by the song thrush and robin just before daybreak, followed by the blackbird, chaffinch, sparrow, great tit and blue tit.

The full company will join in the chorus as the sun rises over the horizon.

Corn bunting

Although it is not billed as an exclusive performance this year, conservationists have warned that the curtain could fall on the current run of the dawn chorus as we know it.

The past three decades have seen a drastic decline in songbirds, because of intensive farming and the loss of traditional habitat.

The skylark, corn bunting and tree sparrow have all declined, by as much as 87 per cent.

"I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to appreciate nature's orchestra and be up with the lark for International Dawn Chorus Day," said Heather Mead, of Herefordshire Nature Trust.

ARLY risers can have front row seats for a musical performance on Sunday, which is International Dawn Chorus Day.

The programme will begin with an introduction by the song thrush and robin just before daybreak, followed by the blackbird, chaffinch, sparrow, great tit and blue tit.

The full company will join in the chorus as the sun rises over the horizon.

Corn bunting

Although it is not billed as an exclusive performance this year, conservationists have warned that the curtain could fall on the current run of the dawn chorus as we know it.

The past three decades have seen a drastic decline in songbirds, because of intensive farming and the loss of traditional habitat.

The skylark, corn bunting and tree sparrow have all declined, by as much as 87 per cent.

"I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to appreciate nature's orchestra and be up with the lark for International Dawn Chorus Day," said Heather Mead, of Herefordshire Nature Trust.