One of the UK’s most recognisable birds, the cuckoo, appears to have all but vanished from our summery skies. Think about it… when was the last time you heard their distinctive cooing sound softly echoing through the woods or in the garden? We bet it was a while ago!
Sadly, cuckoo numbers have been in steady decline since the early 1980s, with British Trust Ornithology (BTO) figures suggesting that they’ve dropped 65 per cent between then and now.
Why? Well, the BTO suggests that it could be down to climate-induced shifts in the breeding times of host species, which has led to a reduction in the number of nests available for cuckoos to set up home in.
Cuckoos are known as a brood parasite, which means they rely on other species to bring their offspring up. Female cuckoos lay their eggs in host nests and then simply fly off, leaving the other birds to raise their chicks.
It’s thought that other birds may now be changing their breeding and migration habits to account for climate change-related temperature increases. The knock-on effect of this for cuckoos may be that by the time they arrive in the UK, flying in from Africa to enjoy the summer months here, their host species have already bred.
But, of course, it won’t just be down to host species behaviour and rising temperatures… other contributing factors in this drop in cuckoo numbers will also likely include habitat destruction, predation and more intensive agricultural practices.
The predominant cuckoo hosts are the meadow pipit, the dunnock, the reed warbler and the pied wagtail, with BTO research showing that the pipit is the only species to have declined in in numbers out of the four and is only responsible for approximately one per cent of this observable cuckoo decline.
This suggests that there are other leading reasons for the fall in numbers, such as reduced prey (typically caterpillars) during the breeding season, or issues emerging along migration routes, such as deterioration of conditions elsewhere.
How to support cuckoos in the garden
Providing cuckoos with lots of tasty treats that they’re sure to enjoy is one of the best ways to help encourage more of these birds into the garden.
They prefer hairy caterpillars and invertebrates, so consider planting some caterpillar-friendly plants outside. You can also help by ensuring that host species have enough food to eat, as well, so make sure you check out our range of high quality bird food to keep all your feathered friends well fed.
Providing a fresh source of drinking and bathing water will also help garden birds see your outdoor spaces as a safe haven in which to spend time. They’ll be flocking to you sooner rather than later!
Aside from that, another great strategy to help support bird populations of all kinds is to avoid using pesticides in your garden. This will help increase insect availability and will ensure that they have plenty of food on hand throughout the year.
