Updates from our Cuckoos

Fred and Jake, two of our Cuckoos tagged in Sherwood Forest, have moved westwards and are now in Congo. Fred recently left the Mbandaka area and has moved about 270km (165 miles) west from his previous location in Democratic Republic of Congo, while Jake, who is about 70km (45 miles) further south, travelled a shorter distance of 155km (95 miles). 

Interestingly, Derek who is slightly further north, had been moving east, the opposite direction to Jake and Fred, until recently but he has backtracked around 65km (40 miles). Emsworthy has also moved, but northwards to the area not long vacated by Fred. These movements may indicate changing conditions which are encouraging the Cuckoos to seek more favourable areas. 

Emsworthy and Whortle, who had both been south of Lake Mai, have moved off to new locations. Emsworthy has travelled 280km (175 miles) north and is now close to Mbandaka while Whortle has headed  370km (230 miles) in a north-easterly direction and become the most easterly Cuckoo of all those that we are currently following. This could be due to a change in the conditions in the area which has caused them to seek new locations.   

From his position in Congo, Fred had moved east and into Democratic Republic of Congo by Christmas Eve and was close to the River Congo. He remained in the area until 12 January before then moving 145km (90 miles) west, crossing back into Congo but remaining in the area of swamp forest. 

Livingstone had been in Congo but by 1 January 2015 he had made the journey to Gabon, travelling over 400km (275 miles), moving from the southern edge of the rainforest to the north.    

By the 29 December, Emsworthy had moved 190km (120 miles) south-east  to the edge of the freshwater Lake Mai-Ndombe where he has remained since.

Whortle is settledin the rainforest to the north east of Lake Mai-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We last heard from him at 16.12 on 9 December.

Stanley is still settled in the swamp forest of the Tumba Lediima Natural Reserve, although he has moved 25km (15 miles) to the north and west.

Since arriving in the rainforest Livingstone has moved south and is now on the southern edge of the rainforest. He is now amongst the most southerly of all our tagged Cuckoos.

Jake is still settled in the area of Lake Tumba in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fred is in Congo, close to the border with Democratic Republic of Congo and 88km (54 miles) north west of Lake Tumba. We last heard from him at 09.06 on 17 December.