The BTO have been satellite-tracking Cuckoos since 2011 and in that time they’ve learned much and gathered lots of vital information, such as how the different migration routes are linked to declines, and they’ve also been able to identify some of the pressures that Cuckoos face whilst on their migration. However, there is still so much more to discover.
In order to continue this important work on such an iconic species, it essential that individuals and organisations continue to make donations and sponsor the individual tagged birds and thus ensuring that this long term study can continue.
Back in 2021, Club member and Committee member Ian Walker, proposed that the Club sponsor a number of Cuckoos as part of this project, and since then the Club has continued to make a combined £100 per year donation by sponsoring 5 birds annually, at a cost of £20 each.
Each tagged Cuckoo is given a name and the five Cuckoo’s currently being sponsored by Fylde Bird Club are:-
Cauch Torc
Henry
Joe
KP
Sayaan
You can read all about the Cuckoo project, view photos of the individual birds taken when the tags were fitted, and see their current positions and their time-lapse migration journey on this page – BTO CUCKOO PROJECT
At the time of updating this page on 29th November 2024, all five of our sponsored Cuckoo’s are busy wintering in central Africa, having all taken a very direct route from Southern Europe, across the Mediterranean and then embarking on an unbelievable 1500 mile (minimum) journey across the Sahara desert and all without any parental guidance!
If you would like any more information on this project, or have any suggestions of similar projects the Club may be interested in sponsoring, please email the details to the Committee using the email address fyldebirdclub@gmail.com