Bird-watching wall

Cuckoo

In Europe, the cuckoo is known far and wide for its peculiar habit of laying eggs in the nests of other birds. In addition, he has a preference for a whole range of hosts. In between, we find resident birds such as wren and hedge sparrow as well as long-distance migrators, such as reed warbler and reed warbler.

Several European studies have shown that climate change is forcing the cuckoo to choose a certain host. Under the influence of higher spring temperatures, the majority of resident birds and short-distance migrants start their breeding period earlier. After all, these short-haul tractors have brought their arrival date forward more than long-haul trekkers. When the cuckoo returns from tropical Africa, many of these species are already too far advanced in the breeding season to be able to lay an egg in their nest unnoticed. As a result, the cuckoo is primarily dependent on long-distance migrators, which return in the same period as itself, such as reed warblers and warblers.

Good news for robin, hedge sparrow, etc. These resident birds have less to do with the breeding parasitism of the cuckoo, but reed warblers and other Africa-goers all the more.

Source: Climate course 'Take the People with You'

www.cvn.natuurpunt.be

Natuuracademie