Where did all the cuckoos go??

[Silvercat]

I watched a lovely programme on TV the other night about cuckoos which made me wonder why in my part of Britain (north herefordshire) we have not heard a cuckoo for about 4-5 years??

For me its the sound of spring hearing those cuckoos and its strange not hearing them any more.
Is it just here or does the rest of the UK have a problem with no cuckoos at all?

[crisgal]

when was the programme on, silvercat?

[Silvercat]

I cant remember when it was on exactly, could have been Sunday?

[mrs.chappie]

I saw that programme too, but can't remember what night it was on. Could hardly bear to watch as the cuckoo chick threw the other chick out of the nest. So sad.

And touching too, how the parents feed the imposter chick, even though it's much bigger than them.

Isn't nature remarkable?

[Mr Veritas]

Perhaps cuckoos like it in a warmer area?
Down here in East Sussex (Nr Hastings) we get them every year.

[carlton23]

After watching them pushing out the rightful occupants, it was like murder. I`d shoot the little perishers if I had a gun, natural behaviour harbingers of spring or not. I`d do the same to Magpies too, murdering little sobs. I`ve got plenty of bird feeders in my garden, so I do love `em`.

[Avatar]

Natural World it was on. Excellent programmes they do.

As for "murdering" the chicks, well, it's nature basically and its a red in tooth and claw world.

Peoples pet moggies do far more indiscriminate killing of songbirds than cuckoos will ever come anywhere near.

[Silvercat]

Mr Veritas, I dont think its the temperature that is causing the loss of cuckoos as up to 2002 they would be singing all day until you got sick of hearing them.

I know its brutal what they do to the other little birds im the nest , but its the way nature has arranged things. Im sure other predators like Magpies and Crows account for more than the cuckoos do.