Fifteen satellite-tagged Cuckoos will take to the skies in a bid to tackle species' worrying decline
Image: Phil Atkinson/BTO
In a bid to tackle the worrying decline in Cuckoo numbers, of crack unit of 15 satellite-tagged individuals will take to the skies during the next week or so, and they will then begin transmitting information of their incredible journeys to researchers at the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology).
The birds – all males, as they are larger than females and better suited for carrying these particular tags – are being tagged in East Anglia, Sherwood Forest, Dartmoor, The New Forest and Ashdown Forest with each tag costing a staggering £2,500.
Announcing the arrival of spring in their own iconic way, the song of the Cuckoo was once commonly heard across the country. However, during the last 15 years the public have noted its growing absence and recent BTO surveys have in fact confirmed that Cuckoo numbers have drastically fallen by 50% during that time.
All is not lost though. In 2011, in a bid to help uncover what might be driving this decline, the BTO began a pioneering project to track Cuckoos on their migration to and from Africa. This work will prove pivotal in understanding the pressures that these birds face, both during migration and on their African wintering grounds.
One other benefit to the Cuckoos being fitted with satellite-tags means us the public can follow their migration in near real-time by visiting www.bto.org/cuckoos. These birds have provided information new to science from the very start: some birds stay in Britain for only just over a month; they winter in the Congo rainforest; and they use different routes to get there. The initial findings pose further questions and, as we move into the fourth year of the project, there is even more to learn about what influences the successes and failures of different birds.
As previously mentioned, each tag costs £2,500, with an additional £60 needed per month, per bird, for the satellite time. The BTO is looking for kind-hearted Cuckoo sponsors to support the project and anyone can help by sponsoring one or more birds, for as little as £10; the opportunity to name a Cuckoo for the cost of £3,000 is also on offer.
Andy Clements, Director BTO, commented, “Our satellite-tagged Cuckoos are the pioneering heroes of bird migration research. Their journeys provide rich information and pose questions for future research, on their routes, their stop-over sites and the habitats they occupy in Africa. It is the generosity of our public supporters that enables us to fund this ground-breaking research that ultimately informs how to conserve our precious birds.”
To follow the Cuckoos, or to support the project and help the BTO in their work, head on over to - www.bto.org/cuckoos.
The birds – all males, as they are larger than females and better suited for carrying these particular tags – are being tagged in East Anglia, Sherwood Forest, Dartmoor, The New Forest and Ashdown Forest with each tag costing a staggering £2,500.
Announcing the arrival of spring in their own iconic way, the song of the Cuckoo was once commonly heard across the country. However, during the last 15 years the public have noted its growing absence and recent BTO surveys have in fact confirmed that Cuckoo numbers have drastically fallen by 50% during that time.
All is not lost though. In 2011, in a bid to help uncover what might be driving this decline, the BTO began a pioneering project to track Cuckoos on their migration to and from Africa. This work will prove pivotal in understanding the pressures that these birds face, both during migration and on their African wintering grounds.
One other benefit to the Cuckoos being fitted with satellite-tags means us the public can follow their migration in near real-time by visiting www.bto.org/cuckoos. These birds have provided information new to science from the very start: some birds stay in Britain for only just over a month; they winter in the Congo rainforest; and they use different routes to get there. The initial findings pose further questions and, as we move into the fourth year of the project, there is even more to learn about what influences the successes and failures of different birds.
As previously mentioned, each tag costs £2,500, with an additional £60 needed per month, per bird, for the satellite time. The BTO is looking for kind-hearted Cuckoo sponsors to support the project and anyone can help by sponsoring one or more birds, for as little as £10; the opportunity to name a Cuckoo for the cost of £3,000 is also on offer.
Andy Clements, Director BTO, commented, “Our satellite-tagged Cuckoos are the pioneering heroes of bird migration research. Their journeys provide rich information and pose questions for future research, on their routes, their stop-over sites and the habitats they occupy in Africa. It is the generosity of our public supporters that enables us to fund this ground-breaking research that ultimately informs how to conserve our precious birds.”
To follow the Cuckoos, or to support the project and help the BTO in their work, head on over to - www.bto.org/cuckoos.
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