Why does the dawn chorus seem so much louder when there has been rain in the night?

Question

I was woken up by the dawn chorus this morning. A host of British birds singing their tiny hearts out.

I may be imagining things, but whenever there has been rain in the night the birds seem to sing that little bit louder. Is it my imagination, a trick of the damp air, the birds feeling that much more energetc or something that I have missed?

Answer 1

It's not your imagination, what it is is the availability of food. When it rains in the night, the earthworms tend to come up to breed. It's just easier to get slimed together without being underground and the moisture is an aid to sperm transmission...Ok, I am getting too technical there LOL Let's just say one bird woke and said "Holy!!!!! It's a smorgassboard, wake up! Get out here! I can't eat all these by myself!"
Fair enough? There is also a bit of a technical asnwer as to the number of bugs that the rain brings out, but I am gonna skip that.
HTH

Answer 2

I too have noticed this but never thought it through. There are some interesting theories below, most of which probably have an element of truth.
Try this. Anyone into hi-fi will know that things like furniture and curtains absorb sound, hence the graphic equaliser. In dry weather, the ground and grass, etc, absorb some of nature's sounds. The rain, on the other hand 'blankets out' this absorption, making the sound louder.
Or perhaps birds are just naturally perverse. They know you wont be too bright waking up to the rain, so they chirp away just to make you feel worse!

Answer 3

The birds have had a drink, so their throats are in better condition for singing ?

SERIOUSLY though....

I suspect it's a lack of other sound... I mean... you get uset to the background rain noise, and when it stops... things seem quieter, and any immediate shrill noise will sound louder...

I hope I'm making a tiny bit of sense there... I need more tea and radio 4 to wake me up !

Answer 4

No you are not imagining things. This is probably due to the atmospheric pressure. Which when it rains is lower and more condensed therfore allowing greater transmition of the sound waves thought a denser atmosphere.

Answer 5

Could it possibly be that they're all moaning about the wet weather to each other, like we do.......

Answer 6

Does it, I hadn't noticed, but I will bare it in mind next time.

Answer 7

if you woke up wet , i bet you would make a noise too

Answer 8

Sorry, can't help there! you are right, I does sound louder, maybe they are just happier!