Updates from our Cuckoos

From the Zamfara Region of Nigeria, Skinner has backtracked, heading both west and slightly north - not what we would normally expect our Cuckoos to be doing at this time! This movement of about 235km (148 miles) takes him has taken him back to Niger, where he is now in the south-east corner of the country. In the last few days, Whortle has recently arrived in the area in the Zamfara region which he left behind. We aren't sure what has prompted this movement, but if it is poor feeding conditions, we can expect Whortle might alss move on from that location shortly. As for Skinner, we will have to wait for further transmissions to see when he may resume his journey in a south or easterly direction. 

Since the 13 September, Whortle has also been slowly travelling eastwards, across the Tahoua region of Niger. He covered around 370km (230 miles) eastwards in three days before then heading directly south, travelling a further 220km (136 miles). This latest movement has taken him inside the border of Nigeria, and into the Zamfara region. Transmissions received on 21 September, along with further signals today, show him stil in the area. Interestingly, this has been recently departed by Skinner the Cuckoo, who has surprisingly travelled north and west (the opposite direction to most of our Cuckoos!) into the Sokoto region.  Will Whortle stay here for long or is Skinner's departure an indication that conditions are not suitable?  

By the 15 September, Livingstone had moved south to the Mayo-Kebbi Ouest Region of Chad. Heading in a south but slightly westerly direction, by the morning of the 17 September, Livingstone had crossed into the north-east corner of Cameroon.  A further 280km (175 miles) south and he was in Mambere-Kadai region of Central African Republic, just east of the country's border with Cameroon, by 19 September. This is around 130km (80 miles) north-west of Berberati Airport. This latest movement makes him the furthest south of any of the tagged Cuckoos, although, perhaps not for long! 

From his position in the west Nigeria, Ken has continued to move slowly eastwards. By the morning of the 15 September, Ken had travelled 730km (450 miles) and was just north of Gombe.  A couple of days later, he had covered a further 760km ( 470 miles) and, having headed off from Gombe in a more southerly direction, by the afternoon of 22 September was in the Ouham region in the north-west of the Central African Republic.  Sussex the Cuckoo is also in this region and only about 210km (130 miles) separates them.

From his position close to the border, Whortle had crossed over from Mali in to Niger by 9 September and covered 250km (155 miles) in a south-easterly direction. From here he then travelled north-east 100km (65 miles). He is currently in the Tillaberi region of Niger.   

By the early hours of 10 September Chance had travelled the final 70km (45 miles) or so and was on the shores of Lake Chad. About 80km (50 miles) separate him and fellow Scottish-tagged Cuckoo, Patch, who is on the other side of the lake. 

Chance has travelled a further 96km (59 miles) in a south-easterly direction, still heading towards Lake Chad but he has a little more distance to cover before reaching it. He is currently very close to his location on August 15 last year, where shortly after crossing the desert he turned eastwards and made straight for Lake Chad, spending a few weeks in and around the nearby area.

On the 3 September, David was still in northern Central African Republic but by late afternoon on 5 September, he had travelled eastwards 470km (290 miles) to Sudan. This mirrors his movement last year when he moved from his position which was slightly further north, in Chad, and was in Sudan by 16 September. This surprised us as, at the time, as he was already much further east than many of the other Cuckoos. It’s really interesting that he has once again moved further east and to an area very close to that he used last year.