Updates from our Cuckoos

It looks like a few of our Cuckoos are setting off on their first spring migration movements. Ash and Emsworthy have both joined Stanley in making a move northwards to the Congo rainforest edge while Derek has been in the area for a few days but only transmitting low quality signals, until now, which hadn't registered on the maps. 

Several of our Cuckoo tags have not sent transmissions for over 10 days; BB, Hennah, Peter, Skinner and Waller. 

This means they are not currently shown on the main map by default, although can be switched on using the tick boxes under their photos. It's not uncommon for Cuckoos to disappear for up to several months during mid-winter as tag charging conditions in the forest are poor so we won't really know their fate unless we receive further transmissions. If they fail to move northwards when expected then either the Cuckoo may have died or the tag may failed or degraded. Our greatest concerns are still for Peter and Waller who were in the same area when signals were last received, all the way back in October.

No signals had been received from Chris' tag since the 21 Janaury but by the 2 February Chris was on the move again. Low quality signals show he had travelled the 490km (300 miles) north it took to leave Angola and take up a location in the  Reserve de chasse de la Lefin in Congo. This is the first stage of his migration north as he moves into the area many of the other tagged Cuckoos spent the winter. This isn't currently on the map due to the low quality but hopefully further signals will be received shortly confirming his location. 

Stanley has made a huge movement of 740km ( 460 miles) and travelled to the northern edge of the Congo rainforest. This is the first step of his migration home and he is now around 250km (150 miles) further north than the nearest Cuckoo, Derek, and 1350km (845 miles) further north than the most southerly of our Cuckoos, Chris.  Our Cuckoos seem to move to the forest edge to feed up for a while before then heading into west africa. 

In previous years David has also made his move as early as the end of January to the forest edge while BB and Chris have moved in February and early March.  

On the 23 January we received transmissions from David's tag showing he had moved 200km (125 miles) north to Lake Mai, an area recently vacated by Emsworthy, who has travelled further north.  

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.