Cuckoo 2011

Heard my first for this year yesterday morning 17 Apr between Cong and Clonbur

romulus augustulus wrote: »

I envy you all ! I haven't heard a cuckoo here in this part of South Kilkenny for many , many years . Falling numbers seem to have done for them around here . Would absolutely love to hear one again .

There was one calling out in Holly Lake yesterday,and one calling out in Ballykinsella (Tramore road) today,whatever part of south Kilkenny you'r in you'r not far from the lake.

romulus augustulus wrote: »

I envy you all ! I haven't heard a cuckoo here in this part of South Kilkenny for many , many years . Falling numbers seem to have done for them around here . Would absolutely love to hear one again .

One calling on Knockrory hill above woodstock estate in inistigue a couple of evenings last week , have also heard and seen them on the bunclody approach to Mount Leinster the past few years.

Watched a BBC programme on the Cuckoo before, and it really is crazy.

As if laying the egg in another birds nest isn't enough, once it hatches, it rolls the other eggs/chicks clean out of the nest! :eek:

emo72 wrote: »

never heard one at all. wouldnt even recognize the sound. maybe someone could put up a recording of it?

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/cuckoo/index.aspx

whyulittle wrote: »

Watched a BBC programme on the Cuckoo before, and it really is crazy.

As if laying the egg in another birds nest isn't enough, once it hatches, it rolls the other eggs/chicks clean out of the nest! :eek:

think i saw that programme.

another good point about them is how they can change the colouration of their eggs to suit whose nest they are laying in.

they also said that its a good strategy for them as they could lay about 8 eggs in different nests as opposed to just laying about 4 in their own nest.

Lucan - unlikely. I think Irish cuckoos have a preference for meadow pipit host so you need to aim for that habitat. Have heard them where bogland and forestry meet in Kildare and Wicklow. E.g. Glendalough. Also Aran islands.

heard one yesterday and today in Foxford
(sunday and monday)

Connacht wrote: »

Lads, am here recovering from having heard 5 and seen - yes, seen - 4 cockoos today! At Clonbur

what are these "Cockoo's" you speak of?:D

sorry couldnt help myself!

trebor28 wrote: »

think i saw that programme.

another good point about them is how they can change the colouration of their eggs to suit whose nest they are laying in.

they also said that its a good strategy for them as they could lay about 8 eggs in different nests as opposed to just laying about 4 in their own nest.

The common cuckoo species as a whole does this, but individual females always lay eggs of the same colour, patterning and size, and stick to parasitising one host species - the one that originally fostered them.

Studies suggest that the genes determining the appearance of the egg are only inherited from the female bird (probably on the W sex chromosome), so females can mate with any males and yet still lay eggs with all the attributes needed to fool the host species. This is what stops the cuckoo from splitting into sub-species - one for each different host.

The evolutionary arms race between cuckoo and foster parents has fascinated biologists for years. A program on the radio a couple of weeks ago talked about some of the research done. It should still be available to listen here.

The Donegal Dawros cuckoo has arrived. Just got a text message, not from the cuckoo.

I was over in the west last week and i heard plenty of them calling in and around Oughterard. I managed to get a photo of one (a little hazy). They are very wary birds i found it difficult to get close to one to get a clear photo.