One Day a Thousand Songs

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. AUTHOR: John Miller is a passionate countryman, naturalist and lifelong observer of the British countryside. Raised in a small Oxfordshire village, he spent his childhood exploring the fields and woods, developing a deep, enduring connection with nature. He serves on the boards of the Atlantic Salmon Trust and Curlew Action and is an advocate for the introduction of a GCSE in Natural History. Through his books and essays (he is an ambassador of Conservation Communication) John encourages readers to reconnect with the natural world by observing, questioning, and cultivating curiosity. Today he cultivates his wildlife-rich garden in Wiltshire and is a passionate flyfisher.