Updates from our Cuckoos

On 23rd November we received a transmission from Clement showing that he had moved 224km (134miles) south-east into Congo. This movement puts him just 82km (51miles) north of Lyster. Both Clement and Lyster took the western route through Spain to North Africa, and then flew down the western edge of the Sahara before heading east and then finally south east to get to Congo.
When the tags were fitted in the UK, Clement and Lyster were 76km (48miles) apart.
By 26th November he had moved a further 25km (15 miles) ESE to an area of forest along a river.
 

Since the 10 October Chris has been in Congo, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. A transmission received on Sunday 27th November shows that he is still in the same area.

A transmission received at 04.11 on Sunday 27 November shows Martin still in Central African Republic close to the edge of the Congo rainforest. He has been in this area since the 27 August. It will be interesting to see if he follows the other cuckoos and moves further south during the next few weeks.

It was beginning to look like Clement was settled in Nigeria and that he might not head further south. However, at 19.42 on Friday evening (18 November) he transmitted from the northern edge of Minkebe National Park, Gabon, and by 09.00 this morning was just north of the Equator, between the Ivindo and Mwagne National Parks. Since leaving Nigeria on Friday he has travelled 1,215km. He was the first tagged cuckoo to leave the UK but the last to reach the vast Congo Rainforest.

Lyster last transmitted on the 10 November and we are expecting another transmission soon. He was still close to Ewo on the 10th.

Clement transmitted at 08.21 this morning and is still in the same location within Nigeria.

We last heard from Martin on the 10 November and transmissions show that he is still in the same location in CAR. We should hear from him in the next couple of days. Will he have moved to join the others in Congo?

Chris last transmitted at 06.44 on the 13 November but has not moved from his previous location.

Kasper last transmitted on the 13 November at 21.25 but there have been no significant movements from his previous location.

On the 4 November we received transmissions showing that Lyster was on the move, back-tracking in a northerly direction. He moved around 50km away from the tributary that was nearby, and is now located near Ewo.  If you zoom in on the map you can see this movement more closely.