INTERNATIONAL Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday, May 3, will be off to an early start in Dulverton when award-winning writer and illustrator Jackie Morris leads a 5.30 am walk along the bank of the nearby River Barle to enjoy rarely-heard early morning bird song.

Organised by the town’s Seven Fables bookshop, the walk will celebrate Jackie’s seven-year collaboration with writer Robert Macfarlane to produce a definitive work on British birdlife ‘The Book of Birds: a Field Guide to Wonder and Loss’, to be published on May 7.

The walk leaves from the High Street bookshop and will be followed by a vegetarian breakfast and a book-signing opportunity.

Booking is essential and Seven Fables can be contacted online or on 01398 324457.

A spokesperson for Seven Fables said: “We are fortunate to have a very close working relationship with Jackie Morris and have seen her new book evolve during the past seven years.“

Jackie and Robert conjure the unique spirit and lifeway of each species.

“This is a book that will be treasured by bird-lovers of all ages, and a future classic work of reference.”

Living in Wales, Jackie Morris was short-listed for the Kate Greenaway medal in 2016 and won it in 2019 for her illustrations for Robert Macfarlane’s book ‘The Lost Words’, which was voted the ‘most beautiful book’ of 2016 by UK booksellers.

‘The Book of Birds’ is Jackie’s third collaboration with Robert Macfarlane.

Publication will be followed by an exhibition in Oxford of her illustrations.

As well as being an internationally successful writer, Robert Macfarlane is a fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

In 2022 and 2024, he was named as a contender for the Nobel Prize for literature.

‘The Book of Birds’ features 49 species which are currently declining or endangered, including the avocet, yellowhammer dipper, kingfisher, rook, and sparrowhawk.