Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) are a well-known and much-loved species in the UK. Perhaps most famously, they lay their eggs in other species’ nest so that they don’t have to parent their own offspring. But they are also a clarion call of summer, travelling all the way from their wintering ground in Africa to breed on our isles.
Unfortunately, cuckoos are facing a drastic decline in the UK. Since 1995, their breeding population has decreased by 35%. Why this decline is occurring is something researchers at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) are trying to find out, and they are using some high-tech equipment to do so.
Cuckoo tagging
Researchers have been attaching satellite tags, which transmit real-time location data, to cuckoos. This data reveals how long cuckoos spend in the UK, when they leave, and which migration routes they take between the UK and Africa.
The hope is that this data will give scientists a detailed understanding of cuckoo migration, the threats they face along the way, and the conservation measures that could be enacted to improve their chances of survival.
The tags have already revealed many insights into cuckoo migration. For example, individuals that fly from areas of the UK where the breeding population is in decline tend to take more westerly routes over Europe. Meanwhile, individuals that fly from areas with less obvious declines tend to take more easterly routes.
It’s hoped that as data keeps coming in, scientists will better understand the factors that influence whether cuckoos survive their migration, and therefore the best ways to help protect the species.
It’s not just the scientists who have been avidly tracking the tagged birds, though. The tags provide live location data which is published on an online map. Members of the public can therefore watch the cuckoos’ incredible journeys, too, and if you click on the individuals on the map, you can find out more about each bird. For example, cuckoo Joe was tagged in Norfolk in May 2022. As of December 5th 2024, he is in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This ongoing project opens a significant window on the wonders of migration, and our discoveries are helping to shape the way we look at bird migration more widely,” says lead scientist on the project, Dr Chris Hewson. The project will also set a groundwork from which cuckoo conservation measures can be planned, increasing the likelihood that the cuck-coo call of these birds will grace our summers for generations to come.
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