Tracking Cuckoos
August 29, 2012 in Wildlife Village by Joyce S
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Tracking Cuckoos
We all delight in hearing the call of cuckoos, returning to breed In the Spring, but the UK has lost about two thirds of its cuckoos in the last 25 years. In 2011The British Trust for Ornithology planned a project which might give some insight as to why their numbers are declining.
BBC Nature reports:
“Migratory birds don’t just have a breeding area and a wintering area, they also have staging posts where they spend different amounts of time,” said Dr Chris Hewson, the scientist leading the project. ”Because Britain and Europe as a whole is getting warmer, they need to get back earlier and earlier to their breeding grounds.
“If we don’t know exactly where they are, we won’t know where the bottlenecks are that might be preventing the cuckoos from getting back to Britain. ”So we’re particularly interested in where the birds are fattening up before the final journey toBritain.”
Cuckoos are one of several migrant species declining in Britain. According to a 2010 survey by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), of the 10 UK birds which have declined the most since 1995, eight are summer migrants, including the cuckoo, turtle dove, yellow wagtail and nightingale. Between 1995 and 2010 the UK lost more than 70% of its turtle doves and nearly half of its cuckoos. The RSPB called the declines “unsustainable”.
Martin Davies from the society, says,: “We are in danger of losing these sentinels of summer, as the birds’ populations have slumped since the mid 1990s. ”The world is changing rapidly and pressures such as habitat destruction, illegal hunting and climate change are believed to be having a major impact on populations of these birds.
“It will be a race against time to tackle these declines.”
The BTO Project - Tracking Cuckoos to Africa… and back again
The ‘Red Listed’ Cuckoo is one of the UK’s fastest declining migrants and, until recently, was one of which we knew least about once it left theUK.
In 2011 we attached satellite-tracking devices to Cuckoos from Norfolk to find out more about their important stop-over sites and wintering destinations on the way to and from Africa.
Cuckoo Migration Chart 2011 – 2012
Now in 2012 we have expanded this to include tagged birds from Wales and Scotland.
Here is the latest news of three of the cuckoos currently being tracked – Chance, Chris and David
Latest news, 28th August 2012
Chance
Chance has been named by a BTO Member after Edgar Chance, a British ornithologist noted for his pioneering studies on the breeding behaviour of the Common Cuckoo. In his second year, he was tagged inStirling,Scotland in May 2012
Chance flew the channel to land in Flanders, Belgiumin mid-June 2012, and he had made it to Africaby 10th August.
Chance is southeast ofLake Chad
It is believed that the transmission depicted to the east is incorrect and that Chance remained in the area east ofLake Chad. Further transmissions on 22, 23, 25 and 27 August show him 155km (95 miles) southeast of theLake, and his previous position.
Chris
Chris is named after Chris Packham. The BBC Wildlife Fund have supported this project. In his second year when caught, he was tagged in Norfolk in June 2011
He left England on 11th June 2012, and travelled through Europe and crossed the Sahara in mid-July, reaching Chad by the end of July.
Chris remains inChad
Chris continued westwards around 90km (50 miles) from his position on 21 August. He moved to the Guera region of Chad and recent locations received this morning indicating he is still there.
David
David has been named after David Milne QC, a member of BTO Council, marking his support of our scientific study of cuckoo migration. An adult when caught, he was tagged inWales at the end of May 2012.
David left the UK at the end of May and travelled south through Germany, reaching Africa on 15th August.
David is in Chad - 28 Aug 201,
Transmissions show that David has travelled only a small distance withinChadfrom his previous location on 20 August. He is, however, no longer the most southerly Cuckoo.
The above information was gathered from BTO, BBC and RSPB
http://www.bto.org/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/
Finally, we would like to wish Susan’s mum STELLA, a very, very Happy Birthday today. She is celebrating a very special birthday, this being her 80th and we hope she has a wonderful day. Love and very best wishes to you Stella from everyone at The Wildlife Village. Click the link below to see a message for you.
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=3591463853602&source=jl999
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The Dyfi Osprey Project and the Scottish wildlife Trust have kindly given their permission for us to post still and video images from their webcams. To visit their sites please click on the relevant link. Loch of the Lowes. Dyfi Osprey Project.
New update from Rutland with some beautiful photos – “8F is heading south”:
http://www.ospreys.org.uk/osprey-blog/
From Tweed Valley – “Farewell for this season”:
http://tweedvalleyospreys.blogspot.co.uk/
and from Mull Sea Eagles – “An empty nest, and all’s well at Glen Seilisdeir”:
http://mullseaeagles.blogspot.co.uk/
Koala surprises canoeists by hitching ride in Australia (with video):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-19399774
North African cheetahs born at Whipsnade Zoo:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-19411021
Cow rescued by fire crews after getting stuck in tree:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-19408243
night cam on, our boy is on mums perch
Today’s sightings from Birdguides:
15:03 29/08/12 Osprey S Yorks Sprotbrough Flash
12:48 29/08/12 Osprey Essex Fingringhoe
11:37 29/08/12 Osprey Suffolk Blyth Estuary
11:28 29/08/12 Osprey Surrey Reigate 10:00
10:50 29/08/12 Osprey Kent Dungeness RSPB 10:00
10:36 29/08/12 Osprey Suffolk Lackford Lakes SWT 10:00
10:28 29/08/12 Osprey Norfolk Bradwell 09:57
08:52 29/08/12 Osprey Kent Hersden 28/08/12
08:31 29/08/12 Osprey Lancs Leighton Moss RSPB
07:58 29/08/12 Osprey W Sussex Angmering 07:49
Marion – I see there was a sighting at Dungerness today.
Iv’e just come back from a very soggy garden party, but hey, guess what ! I won a Panasonic digital camera in the raffle and it’s purple. I was gobsmacked as I never win anything on raffles. It’s my Karens birthday next week, so this can be an extra pressie for her, as all her belongings are still at her old home in Doncaster.
Hi Julie,
Congratulations – I am sure Karen will be thrilled with her extra pressie!
Hope you are feeling much better now, also that your neighbour is coping with his chemo.
Marion x
Well done Julie – a rather lovely thing to win – I’m sure Karen will be delighted xx
Hi Julie – shame your garden party was soggy but well done for winning the raffle! Wow a purple camera too! Karen will be thrilled with that – even though she has a camera its always good to have a back-up – in case of those annoying times when the batteries run out at a crucial time!
Also love the new bunny quarters – very smart! Its so cute the way Red looks after Flora – and glad to hear she is putting on a bit of weight now. love me xxx
From Dyfi:
“Flounder-Fest
Four birds fed off this flounder yesterday – until somebody stole it..”
Video @ http://www.facebook.com/dyfiospreyproject?sk=wall&filter=1
Copyright Dyfi Osprey Project
Spent a few hours up the Lowes way today, Had coffee and scones at Butterstone overlooking the water and hills. Then went to the Lowes where Blue 44 was on the perch to the right of the nest. He sat there through thunder, lightning and pelting rain! He was still there when I left! He looked pretty wet and bedraggled! Many swallows still swooping over the water feeding up before they leave.
Thanks Marjorie – you are lucky xxx
Here I am again, having read your post on the Cuckoo tracking. I know that the Norfolk ones have been mentioned here before, but I didn’t open the link at the time. Thank you for bringing this project to the fore JOYCE, I hadn’t realised just how endangered that species is. Such good news to know that those tracked over all those hundreds of miles have reached their wintering grounds in Chad safely, let us hope and pray that they remain so before returning back to the UK. It was interesting to know how they got their names and with details of the connection with these birds by these different people. I certainly remember hearing the cuckoo when I was a child, and when it changed its tune in June, but not for many years now. Perhaps they were more prevalent in Kent where I lived then.
STELLA, hi. From one Octogenarian to another – A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope you are having a fabulous day with the family.
MARION Welcome back. Together with others here today, I have put that superb film from the Lowes in my Favourites, thank you so much for bringing it here. Like you, Jacqueline, I too had quite a lump in my throat. As you have said, Deidre, I expect it was the lovely, haunting music that accompanied it that had that effect. Thank you too, Marion for your photo of Laddie on his special tree up at the Lowes – no, no need to enlarge it to see him.
DEIDRE I hope that whatever nasty bug has pounced on you and your famly will soon be on its way. out – sounds horrible. One wonders where these nasties come from.
Still on the subject of poor health, ANGELA, so sorry to see that your Peter has had another embolism. As has been said here, the doctor/hospital really should be monitoring him very carefully. I’m sure you both find all these setbacks so depressing. All I can say is that we all send our special thoughts to you both with the hope that everything will settle down in time. I don’t suppose you feel much like laughing just now, but hoping this joke which my Estonian friend told me when I visited that country in June might bring a smile:
A very drunk man hailed a taxi. “Where to” asked the driver. “None of your business” slurred the drunk.
Hmmm. Off for a cuppa – see you all later!
There doesn’t appear to be any cam at Lowes at the moment, perhaps they are not putting on the night cam now.
Nothing for me either Deirdre. How are you all feeling this evening?
No I can’t get it either – hope you are feeling a bit better now Deirdre xx
Felt better as the day has gone on but then I did yesterday so fingers crossed for a better night – don’t
know how our son is as they have all gone to Amsterdam for a two day trip so the children could have
their first flight in a plane! Up at 5 this morning and he felt rotten yesterday. Hope to be back to normal
tomorrow.
Lovely win in the raffle Julie, and purple too bet you would like to keep it seeing as its your fav. colour.
I suppose we must hope we will see our boys again tomorrow Jack, and can’t have a peep now this
evening.
Dx
Hope you start to feel better soon Deirdre – this bug is particularly nasty isnt it! And also hope the children didn’t catch whatever it was and were able to enjoy their first trip in a place! Just rest and drink plenty of water and hopefully you will feel more normal tomorrow – Love Jill xxx
I think the camera went off when the thunder n lightening started there, maybe they have a power cut
What a fab post today about Tracking the Cuckoos. Thanks Joyce, I found it really interesting and so informative. Have never seen a cuckoo and only heard one once at the meeting at Lowes a couple of years ago!
Hope you’ve had a great time with your family xxx
Happy Birthday Stella
Earlier today for those with ENS and no cam – and in Susan’s absence!
Copyright SWT
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/#
Thanks Deirdre – what a beauty he is! xxx
No cam at Lowes, empty nests at Dyfi and Hellgate, so, I’m going to settle down and watch the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics – I think it will be very moving and brilliant to see all the athletes proudly walking or (wheeling) into the Olympic Stadium – I’m looking forward to seeing all the new games too – some of them look quite amazing! Catch you later, love Jill xxx
Hi Julie – just spotted you were on line as I was about to log off. Hope you’re feeling all better now after your bout of the Village Bug! We seem to be spreading it around don’t we? Have a good evening my dear – love me xxx
xxx
HI VILLAGERS – A quick update on Threave Castle birds, I want to catch the Paralypics opening.
A CHICK HAS FLEDGED!
On Saturday 25th August one of the chicks was seen to leave the nest on what we believe to be his maiden flight. Since then there have been a number of sightings of one of the chicks flying around the area close to the nest. The second chick has not been seen as yet but must be ready any day now.
Unfortunately the path to the Osprey Platform has been inaccessible due to flooding, so we haven’t been able to get any really good views of the birds over the past 2 days to see if the second chick has flown.
The camera which was placed on the nest will be removed once the birds have gone so as not to disturb them. Once we get the camera back we can hopefully fill in a few gaps in the females background and get some interesting shots of the ospreys behaviour at the nest over the past few weeks.
Posted by NTS Dumfries and Galloway Countryside Team at 11:50 AM
Jenny C – Castle Douglas
That’s super news Jenny, hopefully the weather will improve soon for a bit of osprey spotting!!
Anyone can now access the NTS Dumfries and Galloway blog from the links tab on the menu bar across the top.
Thanks for the up-date Jenny – I remember they said about the 27th for fledging so not far out xxx
Hello Jill – Enjoy the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, i’m just going to settle down and watch it. Did you see the recent drama on BBC called ‘ The Best of Men’. If not it’s repeated on Saturday night. It tells the story of how the Paralympics games started at Stoke Mandeville just after the war. A truely brilliant drama. Hope you are feeling better now.
Love me xxx
Hi everyone
Sorry I was out when the fish was delivered so although I had left it recording, it had switched itself off, but here are some other clips I did get.
Rocket lands briefly at 11.16:
Rocket on the nest at 16.42, sitting on his fish and watching something.
Rocket at 17.00 – he starts eating again.
Latest update just in from the Lake District. Yesterday White 13 flew over London and right over Buckingham Palace!! Last point in shows him between Eastbourne and Hastings at 2pm this afternoon.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospreywatch/7889541482/in/photostream
Never mind Alison – you manage to get most things for us – here is a screen grab of the delivery – it’s not very good but thought I would post it as you never know when Laddie is going to leave
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/#
JULIE, I watched ‘The Best of Men’, and I agree, I thought it was so good. I’m ashamed to say I had no idea about how the Paralympics came into being. I hope it is shown again – I would certainly watch it twice. I have been watching the Opening Ceremony although I must confess I did switch over to BBC 1 to watch Patrick Stewart in ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ – more interesting than at first, I thought it would be.
ALISON, thank you for your video clips from the Lowes. I wasn’t sure whether Rocket had left part of the fish he’d been eating on the nest, and in your clip I can see that he deliberately left it on the side of the nest. I wonder whether Laddie will have returned to retrieve it. Rocket has been on and off the nest quite a lot today hasn’t he. Great MARJORIE that you were there for a while today and could watch Rocket on the nest. I hadn’t realised it had been thundering and lightning there.
That’s me for this evening. I do so hope that tomorrow will find all those who are feeling under the weather just now, feeling very much better. love and hugs to you all.
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SWT Ranger and Staff ?@SWTLowesRanger
Webcams at Lowes down due to power cut caused by major thunderstorm late this afternoon – normal service will hopefully be resumed tomorrow.
Thanks Fiona – hope they can get it back up tomorrow xx
Night night everyone – sweet dreams xxx
Sleep well xxxxx