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Planet Birdsong is a UK based charitable initiative devoted to engaging the greatest possible number of citizens with bird songs and calls, which we regard as an international language that transcends geographical and species boundaries. Our initiative is multi-disciplinary, involving scientists, conservationists, musicians, educators and computer scientists. Birdsong gives nearly everyone pleasure and connects us subconsciously to nature. We aim to capitalise on this by opening ears and minds to these sounds that colour our lives, and inform a sustainable future through the art, science and technology that mediate our engagement.

Planet Birdsong delivers workshops, birdsong studios, birdsong walks and other bespoke events in partnership with schools, environmental and arts organizations and private commissioners throughout the United Kingdom. Please get in touch with us if you are interested in hosting an event. For examples of recent activities follow links on our calendar, birdsong studio, and education pages or visit the website of musical ensemble The Conference of Birds.

Planet Birdsong envisages a contribution to protecting world biodiversity, habitats and the human condition. The status of bird life is a known marker for the quality of the environmental capital available to people. The project uses sound to increase knowledge and appreciation of bird life for purposes of biodiversity conservation. ​

Planet Birdsong believes that increasing awareness of the common ground between birdsong and human music, and encouraging creative responses to this connection can enhance our understanding of and relationship with the environment.

Planet Birdsong is a partnership with participants around the world, who take the lead and carry forward the knowledge and experience gained into their own activities at a scientific, technical or community level where they engage with biodiversity monitoring and conservation.

News

• What a remarkable night it was at Dalry Town Hall at the ”Conference of the Birds” music inspired by Birdsong. Peter Cowdrey of @BirdsongPlanet explained that birds have a very fast metabolism so to sing birdsong we need to slow the Birdsong down, record the singers then… pic.twitter.com/YFRs2XzPwS

  — Galloway Glens (@gallowayglens) June 27, 2022

• An excellent day out in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, birding and recording along the Bushokoro trail with #planetbirdsong Rwanda Youth Birders team, #IanGad, #FrancesKwizera and #JosephLionceau Able guiding from #FideleNsengiyimva. Getting to grips with sound recording! pic.twitter.com/p4OzsVxFFg

  — Hilary MacBean (@macbean50) June 26, 2022

• Yesterday I got to try speaking Curlew! @pcowdrey 's @BirdsongPlanet came to the village with Birdsong Studio - bird song slowed down to be learned by humans, recorded, and sped up again. So much fun! I think you can guess which is which ;)https://t.co/TliBtUHxQ9 pic.twitter.com/pIsQ1GfO9s

  — Dr. Sarah Thomas (@journeysinbtwn) June 26, 2022

• Due to the train strike we have had to postpone the launch of 'Jackdaws and Other Friends' until October 27th, 2022. The Birdsong Day at St John's Town of Dalry on June 25th, 2022 will go ahead as planned. See the Events Calendar for further details.
  
  
• On July 15th-17th, 2022 we will be exhibiting at the first Global Birdfair. Come and visit us on our stand; we will be running a birdsong studio so we can turn you into a bird of your choice.
  
  
  
  
• June 10th - July 10th, 2022 Hilary Macbean is on site in Rwanda.
  
  Her initial work involves training post-graduate students in bird sound recording, with field practicals and tutoring in sound processing.
  
  Subsequent work involves practical training of students at the Integrated Polytechnic Regional College of Kitabi. They have shown great commitment and ability following the online training and we have no doubt that they will pass on the scientific and technical knowledge, along with an appreciation of local nature, to their peers.
  
  She had the opportunity to train Claver Ntoyinkim, the foremost bird guide in Rwanda, who runs a youth club in his local community of Gisakura. She recorded several short videos, for the archives, of his unique capacity to vocalise bird calls to find important endemic species in Nyungwe Forest NP for visiting birdwatching tourists. He will work with the Kitabi group and as a validator for species data collected by citizen scientists around the country.
  
  Similar multi-day training for the students at Kivu Hills Academy Technical College at Boneza, on the Congo-Nile divide, a remoter part of the country, will follow after which Hilary will move to Musanze in the Northern Province where she will train committed young leaders who are members of Rwanda Youth Birders, connecting them to the environmental education work of Conservation Heritage Turambe.
  
  The programme will culmianate in Kigali with training for young conservation biology students at the Rwanda Wildlife Association and with the Rwanda Women Bird Club.
  
  
• In November-December 2021, Hilary MacBean delivered a series of online webinars on birdsong recording for CoeB Rwanda.

Testimonials

“Planet Birdsong fits beautifully into the entire BirdLife area of work that encompasses birds, culture and society, embracing every aspect from the simple delight that people have in birds and their songs, through to challenging the increasing disconnect from nature that children (and adults) face in an urbanising world.”

John Fanshawe, Head of Development, Birdlife International

“What a wonderful way of introducing children - and adults - to one of the magical wonders of our planet. I will certainly want to encourage my Middle East conservation colleagues to use it, especially in Iraq, Kuwait and Yemen.”

Richard Porter, Environmental Co-ordinator, Nature Iraq, Birdlife International