Irish cuckoos' journey to Africa tracked by satellite

Conservation efforts are underway to shed light on the mysterious lives of Irish cuckoos, with three birds currently being tracked on their annual migration to Africa. The 'Cuckoo Tracking Project' utilizes satellite technology to follow the journeys of Cuach Sean, Cuach Rua, and Cuach Cores, named after their origins in Wicklow Mountains National Park, Burren National Park, and Killarney National Park, respectively.

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unfortunately, we do not know a great deal about the ecology of cuckoos and how they work. We know a great deal about what they do when they are here in Ireland, but we don’t know anything else

"Unfortunately, we do not know a great deal about the ecology of cuckoos and how they work," said Sam Bayley, Conservation Ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. "We know a great deal about what they do when they are here in Ireland, but we don’t know anything else." The project aims to fill this knowledge gap by tracking the birds to discover their routes, duration in different areas, and identify crucial foraging and wintering locations.

One of the tracked birds, Cuach Cross from Killarney, has already completed three round trips to Africa since being tagged in 2023. Cuach Sean and Cuach Rua were tagged this year and are currently in transit. Sean is in the Italian Riviera, while Rua is in Wales. All three birds, like other cuckoos migrating from Ireland to Africa, travel via Italy, cross the Mediterranean, and traverse the Sahara Desert through Libya before spending four months in the Congo River basin. This suggests a common wintering ground for cuckoos across vast distances, from Ireland to China.

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They are currently all on the move

Members of the public are encouraged to follow the progress of these remarkable migratory birds on the website of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

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It seems all the cuckoos, from as far west in Ireland to as far east in China, all go to the Congo to spend the winter