If you’ve visited Radipole or Lodmoor over the last few weeks you may have heard the sound of one of the UK’s most threatened bird species the Cuckoo. For the first time in years, Cuckoo’s have been heard at both the Weymouth reserves which has amazed all the staff and volunteers as well as giving many visitors their first glimpse of this incredible and iconic species.
This recent burst of Cuckoo activity has slightly masked the real threat that faces Cuckoo’s in the UK. You may have seen a programme on BBC2 last Monday evening, presented by Chris Packham. There was a particularly sad bit when a farmer was asked by Chris whether his Grandchildren would ever hear a Cuckoo. His answer was no...
Sadly he may be right as year on year Cuckoo’s have become more difficult to see and now only doing well on nature reserves and some upland areas of the UK. Nearly all the cuckoo’s I have heard in my birdwatching career have been on either heathland or wetlands such as Radipole. I can’t recall hearing one on Farmland which illustrates perfectly what Chris Packham was talking about Monday night. However, there are lots of schemes going on around the country to help farms improve for wildlife. Here’s a link to the farming section on the RSPB website to find out more http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/farming/
As well as habitat problems in the UK the Cuckoo also faces all sorts of problems whilst on migration as it passes through Europe. Trapping and shooting of migratory birds still happends in several countries which the Cuckoo has to pass through. The RSPB along with its Birdlife partners are trying hard to help our migrant birds get here safely in the spring and get to their wintering grounds unharmed during the Autumn.
I have been trying to photograph the Radipole Cuckoo over the past three weeks but only coming back with dodgy distant pictures. However this evening my luck changed when he was singing near the hide and landed here for a quick preen. Not long after he flew off but then landed on the other side of the hide allowing me to get a couple more pictures. They really are beautiful birds and I really can’t imagine a spring without the sound of a Cuckoo.