Press Releases - May/June 2005

Item 3 (2005/06/17)

Last call for Cuckoos?

“In June I change my tune; in July far, far I fly”, but, before they do, the BirdTrack team would like to learn about any Cuckoos that birdwatchers have seen or heard this summer.

Cuckoo numbers have been falling for years (note 1) but initial findings from 3,600 BirdTrackers show that up to one third of them could be missing this year, compared to 2004 (note 2). This is a serious blow for a species that was once common in most British habitats. To help to ascertain the size of the problem the species faces, birdwatchers are asked to report Cuckoos via the BirdTrack web-site on www.birdtrack.net.

Dawn Balmer of the BTO, who runs BirdTrack, the on-line bird recording system from the BTO, RSPB and BirdWatch Ireland partnership, is really concerned about Cuckoos. “Birdwatchers from across Britain and Ireland have been reporting many fewer Cuckoos this spring. In some areas where three or four usually call they are down to one. We have received many calls from members of the public this year worried about the lack of Cuckoos. There is no easy explanation as to what is happening”

David Glue, who has been researching Cuckoos and the host species in whose nests they lay their eggs for over thirty years is really concerned by this sudden drop: “We know that life has been tough for host species such as the Dunnock and that typical Cuckoo moorland and hedgerow habitats have changed over the years. However, such a marked drop in one year must reflect serious problems for the species in East Africa, where Cuckoos spend the winter. It is hard when migrant species have to try to cope with both drought in Africa and habitat degradation in Britain & Ireland.”

Richard Gregory, head of the RSPB’s monitoring and survey section, said: “We have been alarmed for some time about the Cuckoo’s fall in numbers over the last three decades. The low numbers recorded this year adds considerably to our concerns. For such a familiar bird to be in so much trouble is extremely worrying. The Cuckoo is likely to join an ever-growing list of birds struggling for survival in the UK.” (note 3)

Notes for editors:

1. Information from the BTO’s Common Birds Census and the Breeding Bird Survey (BTO/RSPB/JNCC) shows that numbers fell by 56% between 1967 and 2003.

2. The Migration Watch and BirdTrack reporting rates for Cuckoo are given in the graph below. In 2004, Cuckoo occurrence peaked at 20% and that has dropped to 11% this year.

3. Because of its decline, the Cuckoo is a candidate to join the red list of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK and the Channel Islands, when the list is next reviewed by Government and bird conservation groups.

4. The most common host species for Cuckoo are Dunnock and Meadow Pipit in heathland and moorland. In woodland and gardens, species targeted for parasitism include Dunnock, Robin, Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Wagtail. In wetland areas Cuckoos specialise on Reed Warblers.

5. BirdTrack is an online bird recording scheme www.birdtrack.net organised by BTO on behalf of BTO, RSPB and BirdWatch Ireland.

6. To register for BirdTrack visit the BirdTrack website (www.birdtrack.net and click on the 'Register for BirdTrack' link). Registering is free.

7. Birdwatchers are encouraged to enter their birdwatching lists online to support species and site conservation at local, national and international scales.

8. We need to gather a large number of lists at all times of the year. Complete lists (all species seen and heard) are preferred but incomplete lists and casual records will also help build our understanding of populations.

9. Results produced by BirdTrack will help us to map the migration and movements of birds and monitor of scarce birds in Britain and Ireland. Maps are available from for use in publications.

10. BirdTrack follows on from the successful Migration Watch project that looked at spring migration in 2002-2004. BirdTrack will run all-year and gather information on spring and autumn migration. We know very little about the timing of arrival and departure of winter visitors and this is just one area where BirdTrack will provide useful information.

Images are available from

Mark Grantham or Graham Appleton
BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU.
Tel: 01842 750050
E-mail: or

Grahame Madge
Media Officer, Conservation PR
RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL
Telephone: +44 (0) 1767 681577 Mobile and out of hours contact: 07702 196902
Pager: 07654 344078 E-mail:

For information about BirdTrack in the Republic of Ireland contact:

Olivia Crowe
BirdWatch Ireland, Rockingham House, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: 353 - 1 - 2819878 Email:

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