Read the latest updates from our Cuckoos on their epic migration between the UK and tropical Africa, or track their movements in real-time on our Cuckoo migration map. If you enjoy these updates, please consider sponsoring a Cuckoo. Sponsors receive special updates about their chosen Cuckoo in the Cuckoo e-newsletter.
Cleeve weaves west
Since arriving in the Congo back in November, Cleeve’s signal has been intermittent, as we would expect. We last heard from him in mid-Feb when he was still firmly in his wintering area. Now, after a period of ‘radio silence,’ he has suddenly reappeared, having made a considerable move west.
Covering over 2,000 km (1,242 miles), as the Cuckoo flies, Cleeve arrived in southern Ghana on Saturday, and by this morning had flown a further 390 km (242 miles) into Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). He is now close to his Cuckoo cohorts Joe and Jim.
These birds’ arrival in this area is timed to coincide with seasonal rains which create a spike in invertebrate food availability. They will now remain in this region, fattening up and getting into shape before heading off on the next part of their remarkable journey!
Joe joins Jim
In the last few days, Joe has moved approximately 310 km (193 miles) from Ghana into east-central Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Remarkably, he is less than 30 km (19 miles) away from Cuckoo Jim!
The close proximity of these birds helps to demonstrate just how important these traditional staging areas are on the Cuckoo’s migratory routes, and how the birds’ movements are timed to coincide with seasonal climatic events. Any significant changes to these patterns could make the birds incredibly vulnerable, at these crucial parts of their life cycle.
A shock reappearance for Ashok
Back in early December all seemed good with Ashok, and we were receiving steady signals from his tag as he explored the forests of central Gabon. Then, things went quiet. We often lose the signals when the Cuckoos are deep in the forests, so this in itself was not so unusual. What was unusual, however, was the signal that we received in early February which suggested he’d moved over 2,700 km (1,678 miles) east into Ethiopia!
Now, we know enough about Cuckoos to know that this was an anomalous signal and we were certain that Ashok was actually still in the Gabon jungle. But we hadn’t received any further signals… Then, late yesterday, Ashok’s signal sprang back into life and we can now see that he has moved 680 km (423 miles) north of his wintering site in Gabon and made his way into Cameroon!
Arthur moves north
When we last posted Arthur’s whereabouts just over a week ago, he had moved into Liberia in West Africa, over 3,000 km (1,864 miles) from where he’d spent the winter months. In the last few days, he has flown a further 300 km (186 miles) north, skirting the border with Guinea and moving back into Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
His next move could see him heading into southern Mali before making his big Saharan crossing.
Jim’s way out west
After a few months in Gabon, Jim has sprung into life in recent days and made his way approximately 2,200 km (1,367 miles) west into northeastern Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), passing through Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana on the way!
His latest signal shows that he is in Comoé National Park, one of the largest protected areas in West Africa and designated a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Joe goes to Ghana
After a short stay in Cameroon, Joe moved around 1,300 km (808 miles) west into Ghana in the last week.
He is currently in an area of wooded savannah close to a stretch of the Black Volta River, east of Bui National Park.
Sayaan’s steady away
Sayaan is steadily making his way through Cameroon and is currently just south of the town of Bélabo, close to the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Centre.
This sanctuary was set up to rehome illegally trafficked and held Chimpanzees while spearheading and supporting habitat protection and local conservation education programmes.
Frederic flies forth
Frederic has now left the shores of Lake Mai-Ndombe and in the last four days has moved 513 km (319 miles), crossing into northern Republic of the Congo. From here he may head west straight into Cameroon, or via southern Central African Republic.
Sayaan keeps moving
Since our last update, which saw Sayaan moving into south-eastern Cameroon, he has continued to make his way slowly north-west through the country. Covering just over 300 km (186 miles) in the last five days, he is now just to the south of the city of Bertoua.
Initially tagged on the Knepp Estate, Sussex in May 2023, this will be the third consecutive spring that we may track Sayaan’s spring migration.
Joe moves through Cameroon
Cuckoo Joe is making his way northwards through Cameroon, roughly following the course of the Sanaga River. Currently located between the Pangar Djerem Reserve and Mbam et Djerem National Park, Joe’s next move should see him heading into, or through, Nigeria.
Tagged in Norfolk in summer 2022, this will be the fourth spring that we may track his incredible movements north.