Wildlife

Wild Cuckoo Migration Welfare and Satellite Tracking

Satellite tracking of cuckoos has revealed migration routes and the welfare challenges facing these iconic birds along their journeys from the UK to central Africa.

Key Facts

UK cuckoo populations declined 65% between 1995 and 2020
BTO satellite tracking revealed cuckoos use two distinct migration routes to central Africa
Mortality is highest in the Sahara crossing where birds must complete a non-stop flight
Declines are linked to reduced prey availability from caterpillar population changes
Climate change is mismatching cuckoo arrival timing with peak caterpillar availability

Welfare Considerations

Cuckoo migration causes enormous energetic demands. Prey availability declines at both ends of migration create welfare deficits through starvation and breeding failure.

What You Can Do

Support BTO cuckoo tracking research through donations
Manage gardens to support caterpillar food plants reducing one migration bottleneck
Raise awareness of cuckoo decline as a climate change welfare and conservation story
Advocate for policies reducing pesticide use that depletes caterpillar prey populations