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Tagged cuckoos complete migration and return to the UK | Tagged cuckoos complete migration and return to the UK |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature | By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature |
CLICKABLE | CLICKABLE |
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Tracking devices fitted to five cuckoos have revealed the remarkable annual journey of a bird that heralds the arrival of the UK's spring. | Tracking devices fitted to five cuckoos have revealed the remarkable annual journey of a bird that heralds the arrival of the UK's spring. |
The male birds were fitted with the satellite tags last May by scientists from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). | The male birds were fitted with the satellite tags last May by scientists from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). |
Two cuckoos, Lyster and Chris arrived back in the UK this week - the first to have their African migration mapped. | Two cuckoos, Lyster and Chris arrived back in the UK this week - the first to have their African migration mapped. |
After a 10,000 mile trip, Lyster was seen 10 miles from where he was tagged. | After a 10,000 mile trip, Lyster was seen 10 miles from where he was tagged. |
Phil Atkinson, head of international research at the BTO spotted the cuckoo in the Norfolk Broads on Tuesday. | Phil Atkinson, head of international research at the BTO spotted the cuckoo in the Norfolk Broads on Tuesday. |
"We saw him flying past - you can see the wire antenna poking out [from his tag], so it was definitely him," he told BBC Nature. | "We saw him flying past - you can see the wire antenna poking out [from his tag], so it was definitely him," he told BBC Nature. |
"It's just fantastic; we know where he's been, we know the routes he's taken and now he's back in the broads." | "It's just fantastic; we know where he's been, we know the routes he's taken and now he's back in the broads." |
The aim of the project was to discover why, each year, fewer and fewer of the birds return to the UK. | The aim of the project was to discover why, each year, fewer and fewer of the birds return to the UK. |
Britain has lost almost half of its cuckoos in the last two decades and the population of the birds is continuing to decline steadily. | |
The lack of information about the cuckoos' long migration has hampered the understanding of how to help conserve the birds. | The lack of information about the cuckoos' long migration has hampered the understanding of how to help conserve the birds. |
This cuckoo migration map has now revealed, for the first time, exactly where the birds spend the winter and just how brief the time that these so-called British birds actually spend in Britain. | This cuckoo migration map has now revealed, for the first time, exactly where the birds spend the winter and just how brief the time that these so-called British birds actually spend in Britain. |
"They're African birds really," said Phil Atkinson, who has taken a leading role in the cuckoo project. | "They're African birds really," said Phil Atkinson, who has taken a leading role in the cuckoo project. |
"They evolved in Africa." | "They evolved in Africa." |
Missing in action | Missing in action |
Like all migrating animals, they respond to the changing seasons - depending on lush greenery to provide the fruit and the food for insects that they feed on. | Like all migrating animals, they respond to the changing seasons - depending on lush greenery to provide the fruit and the food for insects that they feed on. |
This reliance seasonal patterns means that a changing climate could make an already challenging journey impossible. | This reliance seasonal patterns means that a changing climate could make an already challenging journey impossible. |
"All the birds got down to Congo and survived, and it's only on spring migration that we started to lose birds," said Dr Atkinson. | "All the birds got down to Congo and survived, and it's only on spring migration that we started to lose birds," said Dr Atkinson. |
"We lost our first bird, Clement, in Cameroon on the return journey," he told BBC Nature. | "We lost our first bird, Clement, in Cameroon on the return journey," he told BBC Nature. |
"So we think the crunch time is just before they cross the Sahara." | "So we think the crunch time is just before they cross the Sahara." |
Although the team were sad to lose the birds, Dr Atkinson said that understanding the most challenging parts of a cuckoo's journey - and where they were most likely to die - provided them with "an incredible amount of new and important information". | Although the team were sad to lose the birds, Dr Atkinson said that understanding the most challenging parts of a cuckoo's journey - and where they were most likely to die - provided them with "an incredible amount of new and important information". |
"These birds move into west Africa, they fatten up as much as they can - enough to fuel their Saharan crossing. | "These birds move into west Africa, they fatten up as much as they can - enough to fuel their Saharan crossing. |
"And if they're not able to do that, I think that's going to be a real pinch point in terms of mortality. | "And if they're not able to do that, I think that's going to be a real pinch point in terms of mortality. |
"That's where we need to focus our research effort and conservation action." | "That's where we need to focus our research effort and conservation action." |
The team now plan to continue the project by fitting a group of female cuckoos with the same tracking devices. | The team now plan to continue the project by fitting a group of female cuckoos with the same tracking devices. |
"Males and females may well do different things in terms of migration," said Dr Atkinson. | "Males and females may well do different things in terms of migration," said Dr Atkinson. |
"Males may well be more time-stressed to get back in spring to get a good territory and find females and females might have to stay later to get the last few eggs out. | "Males may well be more time-stressed to get back in spring to get a good territory and find females and females might have to stay later to get the last few eggs out. |
"As we have seen in the five cuckoos, timing is really important and this may be crucial in determining whether a bird undertakes a migration successfully or not." | "As we have seen in the five cuckoos, timing is really important and this may be crucial in determining whether a bird undertakes a migration successfully or not." |
Grahame Madge from the RSPB said it was a relief to know that at least some birds were coming back to Britain to carry on future generations. | Grahame Madge from the RSPB said it was a relief to know that at least some birds were coming back to Britain to carry on future generations. |
"The cuckoo is an urgent priority for research," he told BBC Nature. | "The cuckoo is an urgent priority for research," he told BBC Nature. |
"This fantastic project is boosting the understanding of this bird so that, hopefully, we can give this bird a future." | "This fantastic project is boosting the understanding of this bird so that, hopefully, we can give this bird a future." |
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