Nightingale Boom at Nature Reserves Ahead of Dawn Chorus Day
By Conservation Correspondent
Bird lovers could be in for a treat this weekend as Nightingales return in force ahead of International Dawn Chorus Dayon May 3.
The iconic songbird — famed for its powerful voice — is enjoying a boost at RSPB nature reserves, with 176 singing males recorded this year, up from 164 in 2024.
It’s a rare bit of good news for a species on the UK’s conservation Red List, with numbers having fallen by more than a third since the 1990s.
Experts say habitat loss is the main culprit — but targeted work at reserves is helping turn things around.
Hotspots include Northward Hill and Canvey Wick, with other sites also reporting increases.
Alan Johnson, RSPB England Area Manager, said: “It’s fantastic to see Nightingale numbers increasing… a great example that nature can thrive when given a chance.”
He added: “Scrub might not be the most glamorous habitat, but it plays a crucial role… hearing Nightingales again makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Nightingales migrate from Africa each spring and are only found in southern and eastern England, favouring dense scrub to nest and feed.
