Recording the Dawn Chorus, with Ben Porter

Not Another Science Podcast

This spring, Ben Porter, Lucy Hodson (AKA Lucy Lapwing), Nina Constable and Indy Greene are running a project for people to make their own DIY parabolic reflectors to record birdsong, encouraging people to get out on their doorsteps and connect with the avian chorus in a way they might not have before. Then, on May 2nd — International Dawn Chorus Day — the plan is for as many people as possible to head out (weather permitting) in their local areas to record the dawn chorus with their makeshift parabolic reflectors. Nina will piece the audio clips together into a ‘Dawn Orchestra’ of birdsong across the country, to be released alongside an accompanying piece about the plant pot parabolic reflector in Nina Constable’s spring special of her award-winning ‘Wild World’ film series.

Have a go at making your own parabolic reflector, and share your results and recordings by tagging your posts with the hashtag #PlantPotParabolic. To feature in our Dawn Orchestra event, get out with your parabolic reflector on International Dawn Chorus Day (May 2nd) and send in your recordings and clips to [e-mail].

You can download a beautifully illustrated guide to make your own DIY parabolic reflector from the talented Sarah Dowling here: https://bit.ly/3e9Ieq2

Head over to Nina Constable’s website for a how-to video and all the information you need to get involved. Link here: https://www.ninaconstable.co.uk/plantpotparabolic

Links to the team on instagram//twitter:

• Ben Porter @benwildimages // @bardseyben
• Nina Constable @ninaconstablemedia//@ninaconstable
• Lucy ‘Lapwing’ @lucy_lapwing//@Lucy_Lapwing
• Indy Greene @greeneindy//@GreeneIndy
• Sarah Dowling @sarahdowlingart

Not Another Science Podcast is co-created by Helena Cornu (@helenacornu) and Tom Edwick (@edwicktom), brought to you by Edinburgh University Science Magazine (EUSci). Our podcast manager is Alix Bailie (@alixbailie). The logo was designed by Apple Chew (@_applechew), and the cover art was designed by Heather Jones (@heatherfrancs).

You can visit our website at www.eusci.org.uk to check out the latest issue of the magazine, a ton of other cool science content by our student journalists, and to see how to get involved. You can also follow EUSci on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. All podcast episodes and transcripts can be found at www.eusci.org.uk/podcasts/.

Music by Kevin Macleod.