Why are the birds tweeting at all the wrong times?

[Wendyer]

They’re out there doing it now, and in the last few days I’ve heard them doing it at various times when they should be safely tucked up. Is it because the weather is mild?

Their batteries are wonky. When we all stay home again they will replace them and it will go back to normal 😉

Alternatively yes it’s the unseasonable weather.

Yes, I've heard that too!
It's pretty near the shortest day, so maybe they just had stuff to do?

Batteries have a lot to answer for :)

It means the end of the world is nigh.

Wooooooooo!

It's full moon. It's probably bright out there.

They're psychos around here, default setting is 'confused little buggers'

It’s going to be the shortest day for daylight soon, so could be that 🤷🏼‍♀️

It's funny you should say that as I just heard seagulls fighting out there! Why are they awake?

1 am yesterday/today!!!

I googled. Seems they get confused with streetlights

Having a right old sing song!

Are they robins or blackbirds? Both have larger eyes for their size than other birds, and will often carry on singing past sundown if there is bright artificial light about i.e. near street lamps or on trees round lit car parks and buildings.

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/birdwatching/bird-behaviour/why-do-birds-sing-at-night/

How have I got this far through life and only just heard them?!

Maybe because bedroom window is open ( flushes) all night long

Thank you for that link @SomethingOnce, it makes for interesting reading. Although I’ve never heard them tweeting at odd times before.

I’ve never heard them either before the last few days @RedRobinRedbreast!

And may I say what a very apt username you have for this thread!

Funny you mention this I was confused last night round about this time when I heard what sounded like seagulls.

You’re welcome. I’d wondered the same thing.

Where we are (London, but back-to-back long gardens with trees and shrubs) there seems to be a substantial robin population and they keep very odd hours, presumably due to light pollution.

Combination of factors - current full moon means it is bright at night, add in normal light pollution from street lights, office/shop lights on overnight and add in extra light pollution from Christmas lights everywhere and it creates a form of all night long artificial dawn when many species of bird start to become vocal

Kind of glad to read this , I had the same couple night ago at 1am and was confused as hell ! Right outside the window like it was 7am 🤔

Robins are always late to bed and early to rise.

But yes also, it’s the ‘cold moon’ in a day or two. It’s the name given to the full moon nearest the shortest day. Given the cold, clear conditions too it’ll mean it’s quite bright.

They also sing faster, live faster and die sooner in more urban areas and than used to, all because of the disturbance of their natural environment.

There is a bird cheeping away in the tree outside my window right now!

I’d be chirpy too if I didn’t have to get up and go to work …

I was confused by this too walking home at 11pm a couple of nights ago and downloaded an app which picked up blackbirds and robins.

I also googled and read what the RSPB had to say about it but wondered why I had never heard them at that time of night before, not that I'm often out at 11pm, but even so. I suppose all the conditions were right for it and I hadn't factored in the extra light pollution from Christmas lights.

I found it both really really weird but strangely comforting. It's only a 2 minute walk from the bus stop to my house but at 11pm hearing birdsong made it less grim.

I wonder if AI will ever be able to decode birdsong? Or any other animal callings for that matter.

There are some big flood lights outside my work which make the birds sing in the dark. It hate it, it's really sad.

The bloody London parakeets have just made it to our area, and they screech whenever they feel like it. It's like having a flock of football fans living in the tree outside your bedroom window.