One Day a Thousand Songs

On 6 May, from dawn to nightfall, John Miller recorded every bird he sees in his garden: their songs, behaviour, nests, battles, triumphs, survival techniques, backstory. The results are remarkable, inspiring and informative. If we garden for insects, we will have abundant wildlife, he writes. On 6 May last year, just before the first light of day, a robin sang the opening notes of the dawn chorus in John Miller’s Wiltshire garden at precisely 4.35am. For the rest of that day, until a tawny owl passed over at 9.23pm, each bird is briefly brought to life with John’s observations and fascinating backstories: their nests, their eggs, their battles, their triumphs. Sound recordist Alex Byng and photographer David White were with John throughout this red-letter day – which anyone can replicate in their own garden, using the Merlin bird ID app to help identify bird songs and confirm sightings. Includes practical succinct advice on creating an insect-friendly garden, the bedrock of successful wildlife conservation.

Pages: 192, Paperback, Merlin Unwin Books