Updates from our Cuckoos

Having moved 100km to the south on Wednesday evening (3 August), Chris had returned north to his previous position by Saturday morning! We received several good quality locations spanning several hours soon after his arrival at the more southerly temporary location but we don’t know how long he spent there, other than that it was less than 2 days. Presumably conditions there were not to his liking so he returned to the previous location, knowing that this was a better bet…. He is experiencing pretty much the same weather as Kasper, 25°C, scattered cloud with the chance of thunderstorms.

Chris has made it safely over the Sahara! A series of locations received yesterday afternoon (Monday 25 July) placed him in southern Chad, about 190km (120 miles) from the border with Central African Republic. Chris is still our most easterly Cuckoo and, equal with Martin, he is now our most southerly too. His current location is at the southern edge of the semi-arid Sudan savannah zone, very close to the sub-humid northern Guinea savannah - with the rains having just started the conditions should be quite good for him.

On the night of the 20th July, Chris was still in northern Italy. A series of three poor quality fixes indicated that by the early morning of 23rd July, Chris had crossed into Africa and was in Chad, having undergone a lengthy migration of over 2,600 km in 55.5 hours.

The latest fixes put him around the rim of Tarso Voon, a 3,100m high Stratovolcano located in the central-western part of the Tibesti Mountains. This range of mountains are the largest in the central part of Sahara and contain numerous interesting natural and historical landmarks - but most are little investigated due to the nearly constant warfare in this region.

Although the volcanoes are inactive the volcanic landscape (take a tour here) is impressive. The most interesting geothermal features of Sahara are seen in Soborom geothermal field about 5km west of the rim of Tarso Voon where there are bubbling hot springs, steam jets and  boiling mud pots. Local Toubou and other people from this part of Sahara come and stay for a few days in the natural resort to heal dermatitis or rheumatism. For healing, a pool, where water is some 42°C warm is used. The hottest spring pool is named Yerike - gas constantly rises from it and the pool is bubbling as if boiling. The temperature of springs in Soborom is between 22 and 88°C. In these areas sulphur and iron also emanate and both have coloured the soil in vivid colours.

The landscape is rugged (see here and here) and Chris can’t be spending much time here. To survive he must push on further southwards to the relative greenery of the Sahel.

As of Wednesday evening (20 July) Chris was still close to the river Po, on the edge of the Po delta. He has been overtaken by Martin in terms of progress south – will he leave soon for the push on into Africa? His next transmission period begins tonight, when we might find out.

We did not receive any locations from Chris when expected and, whilst we were slightly surprised not to get even one fix out of the tag, we are not yet too concerned. He is due to transmit this evening so hopefully we will have news tomorrow.

We have received no new positions for Chris as yet (morning of 13 July) but his tag is due to start transmitting very soon.