Updates from our Cuckoos

We still have yet to hear news from either Chance or Tor, who had been in a similar area of dense cover close to the Gabon/Congo border, when their tags last transmitted. 

If their respective batteries have not been receiving enough solar charge to power them over a long period of time there is a possibility that the battery may degrade and not be able to power up again. However, if they have been receiving some small charge during this time, though not enough to send a transmission, then once exposed to enough light, transmissions should start back up again. We continue to hope that like David, who went over 6 weeks without a tag transmission but recently re-emerged, Chance and Tor may reappear if and when they move northwards. 

Signals received today show that David has now crossed into the Central African Republic, after a further journey of 420km (260 miles), and is clear of the block of more or less continuous closed canopy forest of the Congo Rainforest.

He is on a very similar schedule to last year, when he arrived at this location around the 28 January. He then spent almost 2 months moving along the edge of the forest block line before making a huge jump, at the end of March and into early April, to the western part of West Africa. This was quite unusual compared to the other Cuckoos who stopped over in one or two countries as they made their way west rather than apparently attempting it in one jump.

Ken has moved directly north within Gabon, heading towards Patch's current location. He has travelled around 110km (67 miles) which means that only 12km (8 miles) separates him and Patch now. 

Having left his last location in Congo, Patch travelled in a south-westerly direction, crossing over the border with Gabon on the 18 January. Transmissions received on the 25 January indicate he has remained  int his location.   

The last signal we received from David was on 16 December so we were relieved to see that he was once again on the move and that his tag was still transmitting. From his last position within the Salong National park, he had moved 375km (230 miles) north and was close to the equator. By the 27 January he had continued a further 160km (100 miles) north. This new move means he is one of the most northerly Cuckoos currently.

On the 17 Janaury a series of poor quality locations indicated Chris had left his previous position and was heading NNE. A signal on the 20 January revealed he had crossed the border into Congo and had traveled 550km (345 miles) almost due N to a location in the region of Pool, about 80km ( 50 miles) north-west of the capital of Brazzaville.

This is likely to be the first stage of his northward migration. Having wintered so far south this year in Angola, it will be interesting to see if he continues to the north of the Congo Rainforest, as we have seen our British Cuckoos do each winter or whether he will remain to its south for a while, like the Scandinavian birds have after wintering in Angola. 

We last heard from David seventeen days ago from the Congo Rainforest. Whilst we are a little anxious about him the last transmission showed that the tag temperature was as expected. His battery charge was extremely low and his tag will have stopped transmitting soon afterwards. We are hoping that if he moves into some sunshine that his tag will begin transmitting again.

Since his stop in the Likuoala Aux Herbes area, he has continued another 88km (55 miles) north-west, and as of 12 January was just 9km (6 miles) from Norfolk Cuckoo, Derek.

After his initial movement of 75km north-west of Lake Mai on 26 December, Patch has continued moving. He travelled a further 304km (189 miles) and as of 09.15 on 14 January, he was in the southern part of the Congo rainforest, just 11km (7 miles) from a fellow Scottish Cuckoo, BB.

Livingstone is still in the area of Gabon in which he arrived on 30 December.  We last heard from him on 11 January.