As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday, 1 April 2013

BTO cuckoo update - The birds are preparing to cross the Sahara


The cuckoos being tracked by satellite are gathering on the southern edge of the Sahara, ready to cross.

Birds gathering in West Africa in preparation for crossing the Sahara
March 2013. This is just the second year that BTO have been able to follow tagged British Cuckoo's on their spring migration back to the UK.

Chris is the only bird followed in both years so BTO are keen to see how similar his route and timing is to last year's journey.  They are also interested to see whether Cuckoos tagged in Scotland and Wales, where populations are faring better, will do anything different to Cuckoos tagged in England, where the population decline is greatest. All five Cuckoos tagged in year one were caught in England.

Let's hope for better weather than last year to aid their safe return. 
Get the latest update from the BTO site here 

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/cuckoo-sahara-bto.html

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