With the dawn now breaking and the sun beginning to shine, the ever-reliable rainbow lorikeets take part, before the sulphur-crested cockatoos squawk the final verse.

A Birds' Early Morning Song

Danielle Corrie

As I sit on my front step watching night turn into day, l listen to the many birds chirping their early morning song. One bird starts with a high pitch shrill before others join in. Then, after a while, that same bird returns to sing some more. All the birds chirp in harmony. In perfect pitch and right on key. Some are sitting in gum trees close by, while others are further away.
I recognise the carolling magpies, the haunting voice of the ravens, and the melodic currawongs. Even the laughing kookaburras and pink galahs add their voices to say g'day. With the dawn now breaking and the sun beginning to shine, the ever-reliable rainbow lorikeets take part, before the sulphur-crested cockatoos squawk the final verse.

In addition to these familiar bird sounds, there are others who's sound I have not yet recognised. Are they wattlebirds, honeyeaters, or koels nearby?

All of sudden I see a magpie sitting on top of a telegraph pole. It makes an unfamiliar call, telling me that one of the earlier sounds was exactly that, a magpie. I wonder if any of the other birds I'm familiar with were singing different songs for the dawn chorus as well?

Author bio: Danielle Corrie is a writer, author of the book Teida's Story - Life through the eyes of a dog. She has a great passion for nature, gardening, and the environment and enjoys making new discoveries, big or small, in her garden.

Location: Revesby, NSW, Australia