Monthly Talk – When Birds Sing

by guest speaker, Saffron Summerfield

A digitally Illustrated Talk with Saffron’s own recordings of Bird Songs, photos and music videos.
Accessible to everyone, whether you’re a bird watcher or just interested in the birds in your garden.
The how ,why and when a bird sings, with latest scientific research on the state of our British songbirds: ie, can feeding birds in our gardens make a difference to how they sing?
How can a tiny bird like our Wren sing 25 notes a second.
Do female birds sing (Yes!).
Birdsong and wellbeing, why does the Dawn Chorus have such an emotional and calming effect on some humans?
Bird song has inspired composers – Beethoven ,Sibelius and Messiaen have all acknowledged the influence of birdsong. Mozart kept a pet starling and taught it tunes.

Saffron Summerfield is a guitarist, singer, poet and birdsong sound recordist. Saffron developed a passion for birdsong and calls when she was artist in residence at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in East Sussex.

She has recorded nine albums, written songs for BBC television and radio and two Channel 4 documentaries. Saffron has directed many community arts and nature projects in collaboration with Wildlife Trusts, Arts Council and local authorities across England.