When everything else seems out of kilter there are some natural events that reassure us that the essential rhythms of life go on, pre-dating humanity's presence on the planet by millennia. One such is the return of 'our' mysterious cuckoos from....well, we knew not where until the BTO started their pioneering satellite-tracking project in 2011. It turns out they spend our winter in the Congo rainforest before flying thousands of miles (including a hazardous transit of the Sahara desert) back to us to breed, heralding the height of Spring with their iconic call.
Last year SWVC made a donation to the BTO enabling them to 'tag' another cuckoo. There are currently five, one already here (Carlton II), while the bird I was lucky enough to see expertly caught to join the project last May (Tennyson- pictured) is taking his time about it and is currently in Liberia.
Follow their progress here...
www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project
...and, if you can, donate to this brilliant project here by sponsoring one of the cuckoos.
I've not heard one yet- have you?
