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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 7th August 2012
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Cuckoo takes a surprising route
A cuckoo has migrated using a different route

The migration habits of a cuckoo caused surprise last week when it was tracked by satellite to investigate migration habits.

The bird, known as Lyster, was expected to fly towards Africa by heading west around the Sahara Dessert, as it did last year. However, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) tracked him 1,000km east, on the Algerian coast.

It is thought that Lyster found Algeria a suitable habitat on his way to the UK from Africa earlier this year, and took this route due to more favourable conditions. It is otherwise believed that he may have simply drifted off course.

'[The BTO] expected Lyster to follow the same route as last year, but to our surprise it was 1,000 east after an extraordinary 500km crossing of the Mediterranean Sea,' said Paul Sandliffe, part of the BTO cuckoo-tracking team.

Lyster is one of five birds originally tagged n 2011 by the BTO, however only signals from him and another cuckoo called Chris remain. They have this year tagged another 11 cuckoos.The BTO are hoping this will provide an insight as to why there has been a 50% decline in British cuckoos over the last 25 years.

Lyster is still making his journey to Africa, and is expected to stay in the Congo Basin rainforest for the winter.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.