Europe’s largest wading bird, the endangered Curlew, is found here at Bolton Abbey

Just what is it about that song? You know, the one you play over and over again and can’t get enough of, or the one that goes round and round your head like a broken record and drives you up the wall.

We all have those songs we love or make us slump with despair when we hear them. And that’s the power of music. You can’t fail to be touched by it. But there’s a different kind of sound that can also touch us and it’s almost guaranteed to make you feel good. And that’s the power of birdsong.

Ok, some scientists may tell you it’s not music, but let’s not split hairs or feathers here.

All we can say is that at Bolton Abbey, as well as making the most of your experience enjoying the breath-taking sights that you’ll find right here, birdsong is a wonderful way to engage with your senses, focus on the moment and get to know this stunning part of the Yorkshire Dales.

Home to roost

With 30,000 acres and more than 80 miles of footpaths, the Bolton Abbey Estate is home to around 40 species of birds all year round and attracts many others from foreign climbs. And that’s hardly surprising given our diverse range of habitats, from moorland to pastures, from woodland to meadows.

Our woodlands are sanctuary to so many species of birds

For so many visitors, we already know how popular our woodland trails are. Easily accessible, they’re great for young families and those less able. But they’re also popular to tree nesting birds like the Pied Flycatcher and the Great Spotted Woodpecker. And if you look along the River Wharfe, keep an eye out for Common Sandpipers, Oystercatchers, Sand Martins and Swallows.

Kingfishers also make a fleeting appearance usually in the blink of an eye, while the heron much larger and slower by comparison but no less elegant stalks the water’s edge waiting for its next meal.

Getting to know our feathered friends

Knowing what you hear and see isn’t everything because exploring nature is more about the way it makes you feel. But if you’re curious enough to learn more about the birds that inhabit these wooded areas, we might just have something right up your street.

With our Dawn Chorus experience, you will identify on your guided walk through Strid Wood, a site of special scientific interest, the songs of different birds and understand the meaning of their songs.

The Golden Polver is one bird you might just spot out on our Curlew and Endangered Wader Safari

Another event of ours is the Curlew Safari. Only this one takes you up onto the moors to find Europe’s largest wading bird. Known for its long slightly curved bill and distinctive bubbling sound, the Curlew is an endangered species with the UK seeing a 50% decline in its population in the last 25 years.

But our work covering this area of 13,500 acres has given these birds a fighting chance of survival. Led by our dedicated and knowledgeable gamekeepers, discover what has caused the plight of the Curlew and what we’re doing to protect their moorland habitat, which is also home to Peewits, Golden Plover, Merlin, Red Kite and Snipe.

Stretching for thousands of acres, these moorlands offer the perfect habitat for ground nesting birds

Painting a picture of sound

This is just part of our £675,000 annual investment into moorland management. And in our ongoing pledge to protect and conserve biodiversity on the estate, we have installed 30 bioacoustic monitors – all strategically placed – to paint a picture of the estate through sound by detecting the distinct sound of birds and understanding their patterns of behaviour.

Preserving the estate for future generations to enjoy is very much at the heart of what we stand for – along with our values of decency, inclusion and forever seeking ways to improve. We want Bolton Abbey to be a place that everyone enjoys but we need your help too.

Spring is such a beautiful time of year and it’s only natural that more of us want to go out and enjoy the great outdoors. But it can also be a very vulnerable time. You only have to see the lambs in the fields to know that.

Sadly, some visitors may not realise the harm they do to plants and wildlife, lighting barbecues and fires when we get the warmer weather.

Let’s all work together to protect what we have

Letting dogs off leads and allowing them to roam away from footpaths may also frighten ground nesting birds, leaving unhatched eggs or brooding chicks exposed to the elements and predators.

It would be lovely to think we could all work together to preserve what we have because it’s worth fighting for.

Nature teaches us that spring is both beautiful and fragile

We really welcome dogs here but they come with responsibility, so we kindly ask all our visitors to respect the natural habitats of all our wildlife and livestock. If not for us, do it for them.

We love dogs here but please remember to keep them under control

Protecting our wildlife also enhances your experience on the estate, not to mention the benefits they bring to your mental well-being, which are undisputed.

Unless you’re coming to one of our ticketed events, take advantage of our early bird discount at Bolton Abbey. Now that’s got to be music to your ears!