Updates from our Cuckoos

Read the latest updates from our Cuckoos on their epic migration between the UK and tropical Africa, or track their movements in real-time on our Cuckoo migration map.

If you enjoy these updates, please consider sponsoring a Cuckoo. Sponsors receive special updates about their chosen Cuckoo in the Cuckoo e-newsletter.

Future transmissions from Maji uncertain

09 Sep 2014

We have not heard from Maji since 10 August. When we last did, the temperature sensor readings on the tag indicated that he was still alive but the charge on his tag was very low.

Maji at first appeared that he would be using the southeastern migration route after crossing Germany, headed to the Austrian Alps. Many birds on the southeastern route have stopped in Italy's Po Valley, which Maji looked like he was going to do. . .until he overshot and ended up over the sea north of Corsica. The northern Appenine mountains in Italy would normally act as a catching feature to prevent this sort of overshoot, but Maji may have found the gap between the Appenines and the southern extent of the Alps, got confused when he ended up over the sea, and simply continued on until he reached the next bit of land - in this case, the Balearic Islands. At this point, he seemed to figure out where he was, as he oriented towards the nearest bit of land and headed for the Spanish coast south of Barcelona. Here, his movements start to resemble John's in 2012. Maji headed north across the Pyrennes towards the Atlantic Coast of France in the Landes de Gascogne National Park. John also ended up in this same area. It is at this point that Maji’s tag stopped transmitting, and his fate remains unknown. It’s possible that his tag might start transmitting again, but this is looking fairly unlikely.

Twenty-two birds still going strong

25 Jul 2014

We are still following twenty-two birds. Currently two cuckoos are in France – Walpole and unnamed cuckoo 134957.

Five birds are in and around the Po Valley in northern Italy – BB, Chris, Stanley, Waller and Livingstone.

Six birds are in Spain – Two of these are big movers this week. After finally leaving the UK, Derek hasn’t hung around. After a brief stop in central-western France, he is now in central-northern Spain, just south of Tolbanos de Abajo. It is Maji that has provided the biggest surprise though. He seems to be taking a tour of the European mountain ranges. Having spent a time in the Austrian Alps, he is now in the central Pyrenees!

David is still in Montenegro and Ash is still in Croatia; both of these birds could make the move to Africa any day now.

We now have seven birds in Africa, six of them south of the Sahara. Emsworthy is the latest to arrive here and he is currently just south of Lake Chad, in an area that Chris also favours. Three other Cuckoos – Peter, Hennah and Dudley – are also close to Lake Chad.

Maji in Austria

18 Jul 2014

Maji is currently in Austria, where he has been since 8 July, although we have only just received good quality signals. He is the only tagged Cuckoo so far this year to have stopped in Austria.

Five Cuckoos leave over the weekend

07 Jul 2014

Over the weekend, five more of our tagged Cuckoos left the UK. East Anglian Cuckoos Walpole, Maji and Chris have moved off, as have Scottish Cuckoo BB, who had been in Suffolk, and Sherwood Cuckoo 134957. All of these, except Walpole, have journeyed south-east to Germany, while Walpole is currently in northern France close to the border with Belgium. These easterly movements may have been encouraged by the westerley airflows over the last few days.

This will be the fourth year we follow Chris, and the third year we follow BB, both of whom have left later this year.

Your chance to name a Cuckoo

27 Jun 2014

With three un-named birds left we are letting you choose what to name one of our Sherwood Cuckoos! Anyone who sponsors a Cuckoo before the end of June will be entered in to a draw. We’ll then pick one entry at random and will contact the winner who can then suggest a suitable name*. Find out how you could name a Cuckoo.

East Anglian birds yet to move

20 Jun 2014

Our East Anglian Cuckoos have yet to budge, with all seven birds remaining in the UK. In previous years Chris has left between 11-21 June, while last year Skinner left on 30 June and Derek on 17 July. It may be a while before we see any movement from these two birds but keep an eye on Chris over the weekend.

With a flurry of Cuckoos leaving the UK, Ash looks to be the only tagged Cuckoo remaining in the most southern of our tagging locations.

Maji tagged in Elveden Forest

21 May 2014

BTO's Cuckoo tagging team were accompanied by Anglian Water's Mike Drew to catch and tag Maji - who despite bright skies, and other birds avoid the nets, managed to fly in twice before before being caught.